Seven Acts of Mercy, The

by Anders Lustgarten

You have to be tough to be kind. That’s what I’ve learned from you, Granddad. Tough and fearless and strong. So that’s what I’m going to be. Naples, 1606. Inside an unfinished church, a painting is emerging from the darkness. The Seven Acts of Mercy is Caravaggio’s masterpiece - and his first painting since he killed a man and fled Rome. As the artist works, he is fueled by anger, self-loathing and his driving need to create a work that speaks of compassion in a violent world. Bootle, the present day. A retired dock worker teaches his grandson, as around them a community is disintegrating under the pressure of years of economic and political degradation. With all he has left, a book of great works of art, he tries to open the boy’s eyes to the tragedy and beauty of the life he faces. And the boy reciprocates in the only way he knows. Playing out across a gap of 400 years, Anders Lustgarten’s visceral play confronts the dangerous necessity of compassion, in a world where it is in short supply. The Seven Acts of Mercy received its world premiere at the Swan Theatre, RSC, on 24 November 2016.

Genres: Plays

116 pages, Paperback

Published November 24, 2016

Reviews

[Frankie]

I read this because I was acting in a production of it, but it’s stayed with me in the three years since for its humour, humanity and insight. One of the funniest moments of our production came when Leon proclaimed Caravaggio “the Duncan Ferguson of the art world!”, and a woman in our very middle-class audience loudly whispered, “Who’s Duncan Ferguson?”

The only reason I would caution anyone against reading this is if they are already apoplectic with rage at the increase in need for food banks, child poverty, and the chronic underfunding of the NHS. This play, while brilliant, is guaranteed to make you even angrier - for some people, that’s good, but read at your own risk!

[Ray LaManna]

A good attempt to connect the suffering which Caravaggio saw all around him with 1980s Great Britain...Lustgarten has made a strong statement about the dangers of capitalism. The only problem was all the references to UK sports and government policies...but if you can over that, every moving play.

[Carenza]

Saw this a few years ago and loved it then, very enjoyable and funny

[Holly]

2.75*

[Vincent McKean]

Saw the play some years ago which was fantastic. The book is equally fantastic.

[Gabz]

A superb play that made me tear up when I first saw it and still has the power to make me tear up on reading it. Powerful, sad, and a brutal show of the world as it is.

[Maddie]

*For school
I’m really getting into doing these little reviews 😂 Anyway, an interesting analysis of society in Renaissance Italy and 2016 Britain. I can’t say I loved it… or liked it massively even… but it was quite good to study.