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32nd out of 80 books
—
84 voters
The Mercy Seat: A Play
by
Neil LaBute
Set on September 12, 2001, The Mercy Seat continues Neil LaBute’s unflinching fascination with the often-brutal realities of the war between the sexes. In a time of national tragedy, the world changes overnight. A man and a woman explore the choices now available to them in an existence different from the one they had lived just the day before. Can one be opportunistic in...more
Paperback, 96 pages
Published
February 21st 2003
by Faber & Faber
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The Mercy Seat is the story of Ben and his boss Abby after the September 11 terrorist attacks. In a relationship, they struggle with a difficult life decision they must make in light of the tragedy. I think it would be unfair to explain the exact nature of the choice they're making in this essay- in fact, probably even the back cover of the play gives away too much. Suffice it to say that this is the story about two people who were once in love and the choices that both of them make about their...more
playwright and director neil labute is well-known for his harsh dialogue and devastatingly honest characters. the mercy seat, labute’s post-9/11 stage drama, features both. set in new york city the day following the september 11th attacks, the play centers not upon the tragedy’s aftermath, but, instead, upon two city residents and their own self-imposed domestic troubles.
with the scope and repercussions of the horrific attacks not yet fully known, ben and abby find the nature of their adulterou...more
with the scope and repercussions of the horrific attacks not yet fully known, ben and abby find the nature of their adulterou...more
Picked this out from the library on the 'I recognize the author's name, but I'm not sure why' impulse. I may be somewhat biased in being sympathetic to a play that is essentially just dialogue between a man and a woman trying to figure out the nature of their relationship (and themselves within it) in that I have written multiple pieces in a same vein (though none good enough to be performed or published), but I was worn down by the end as LaBute could have easily accomplished the same dramatic...more
I like Neil LaBute when he does his own work (he was the poor sucker saddled with the remake of "The Wicker Man." It had Nic Cage in it. Enough said), but if you've seen one Neil LaBute play/movie, you've seen them all. It just so happens I like his style, so I'm willing to enjoy another round of the same old fight.
The dialogue is always brutal and honest, the kind of callous that resonates in the hardest conversations of life. The play takes place the day after 9/11, leaving an adulterous coupl...more
The dialogue is always brutal and honest, the kind of callous that resonates in the hardest conversations of life. The play takes place the day after 9/11, leaving an adulterous coupl...more
LOTS of adult language and situations but fascinating read about a man who is with his mistress instead of at work at the World Trade Center during the fall of the towers on 9-11 and contemplates just taking off and running away with the mistress, leaving his family to think he had perished in the disastrous tragedy. A look at human emotion and human evil. What else do we expect of a man who cheats on his wife and children with his boss?
I read this play in one sitting; this is a script that moves. That is saying a lot considering it is basically two people in a fixed location with no real action. This is definitely Labute at his best with two lovers who know how to tear each other apart with a word. I also appreciated that although this play used 9/11 as a backdrop, the relationship was the focus, not the event.
The thing that struck me as most positive was how Abby handled herself. She was not going to let him do whatever he wanted. She was really upset about all this and was willing to throw away her amazing life for him. He however was not going to do the same. The only thing I did not really like was the language. This story made me feel angry and confused at the same time. I tried to embody Abby and understand her side more then Ben. Ben was the cheater and bad person. She was just a pawn in his ga...more
Read this because I had previously performed a scene from 'Wrecks: Land of the Dead". Really became a fan of this story set during the backdrop drama of 9/11- a couple must decide if this disaster is an opportunity or not...
Jul 09, 2008
Brenda
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Neil LaBute fans
Recommended to Brenda by:
Chris
A man tries to use the horrific events of 9/11 for his own ends. A woman tries to get him to live the truth.
I felt that there was just too much back and forth in this play. Accusations thrown about, predictably getting nastier and nastier. The end twist is interesting but not earth-shattering. I like the idea of exploring the human pettiness that would allow someone to take advantage of an unspeakable event like 9/11, but this doesn't explore it in a wide enough fashion. It reduces it to a very...more
I felt that there was just too much back and forth in this play. Accusations thrown about, predictably getting nastier and nastier. The end twist is interesting but not earth-shattering. I like the idea of exploring the human pettiness that would allow someone to take advantage of an unspeakable event like 9/11, but this doesn't explore it in a wide enough fashion. It reduces it to a very...more
Probably a super mean number of stars. I was highly dubious of the subject matter: guy in 9/11 decides to escape to new life, so I was an unenthuiastic starter but was pleasantly surprised.
First LaBute play I ever read. I enjoyed it more than others have, but not necessarily the best of his work.
Interesting premise, just couldn't connect with the characters. Seemed too short to get to know them and understand them.
I enjoyed the set-up of this play much more than the play-out.
This one is a good-en. Very interesting premise. Takes place the day after Sept. 11 and the couple having an affair who see a way to be together because of the event. The dialogue is witty, the characters are engaging, the woman is strong and smart, and the ending is a doozy.
Another role I'm just waiting to get old enough for. This is the ONLY post-911 literature that I like. Wow.
Love this playwright!
This play is being performed in LA right now & I wish I had tickets :)
This play is being performed in LA right now & I wish I had tickets :)
May 14, 2013
Sarah Riddell
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Neil LaBute is an American film director, screenwriter and playwright.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, LaBute was raised in Spokane, Washington. He studied theater at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At BYU he also met actor Aaron Eckhart, who would later play leading roles in several of his films. He produced a number of plays that pushed...more
More about Neil LaBute...
Born in Detroit, Michigan, LaBute was raised in Spokane, Washington. He studied theater at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At BYU he also met actor Aaron Eckhart, who would later play leading roles in several of his films. He produced a number of plays that pushed...more
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“Maybe that's what Hell is, in the end. All of your wrongful shit played out there in front of you while you're being pumped from behind by someone you've hurt. That you've screwed over in life. Or worse, worse still...some person who doesn't really love you anymore. No one to ever look at again, make contact with. Just you being fucked as your life splashes out across this big headboard in the Devil's bedroom. Maybe. Even if that's not it, even if Hell is all fire and sulfur and that sort of thing, it couldn't be much worse than that.”
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6 people liked it
“I'm saying the American way is to overcome, to conquer, to come out on top. And we do it by spending and eating and screwing our women harder than anyone else. That's all I'm saying.”
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1 person liked it
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Apr 14, 2013 06:04am