Book #22: The Mercy Seat

Title The Mercy Seat


Author: Neil LaBute


Another LaBute play about an ethical lapse. In The Mercy Seat, the main character, who was supposed to be in the World Trade Center on 9/11 but was instead with his mistress, is in the process of deciding whether to return to his family or play dead and escape with the mistress.


As I read The Mercy Seat, I felt pretty similar to how I did when I watched In the Company of Men-- a total lack of sympathy or understanding. Maybe it's the essential female-ness of me, but I really can't see how a seemingly normal sort of guy would allow his wife and kids to think he was dead rather than admit to them that he wants to be with his mistress. And maybe he doesn't want to be with the mistress either. I guess it's just that most 35 or 40 year-old guys at least sort of know what they want from life, or at least I expect them to.


--originally published 6/11/07