THE MERCY SEAT BY NEIL LABUTE

The Mercy Seat by Neil LaBute Presented by The Brainbox Project. Dates Time 2 - 4 September (Tuesday to Thursday) 7:30pm 5 & 6 September (Friday & Saturday) 8:30pm 9 - 11 September (Tuesday to Thursday) 7:30pm 12 & 13 September (Friday & Saturday) 8:30pm Venue DownStairs at the Maj - His Majesty's Theatre Co-Directed by MICHAEL McCALL and BELINDA DUNBAR Featuring PAUL BARRY and REBECCA DAVIS WA PREMIERE In a time of national tragedy, the world changes overnight…On September 12, 2001, Ben Harcourt (Paul Barry) finds himself in the downtown New York apartment of his lover, Abby Prescott (Rebecca Davis) – who also happens to be his boss. His endless ringing mobile haunts their conversation as Ben and Abby explore the choices now available to them in an existence different from the one they knew just the day before. Will Ben let his family know he’s alive or will he and Abby take this chance to create a new life for themselves? The Mercy Seat continues Neil LaBute’s unflinching fascination with the often brutal realities of the war between the sexes and explores whether one can be truly opportunistic in a time of universal selflessness. “LaBute is an original voice, and the best new playwright to emerge in the past decade” John Lahr, The New Yorker “Neil LaBute is the first dramatist since David Mamet and Sam Shepard - since Edward Albee, actually to mix sympathy and savagery, pathos and power.” Donald Lyons, New York Post Making his debut appearance DownStairs at the Maj, Sydney actor Paul Barry (All Saints, Secret Life of Us, Home and Away) joins one of Perth’s finest actors Rebecca Davis (As You Like It, Dear Heart) in this intelligent, thought - provoking and incisive two hander. By arrangement with Samuel French Limited World Premiere at the MCC Theater November 26, 2002 Artistic Directors: Robert Lupone & Bernard Telsey Associate Artistic Director: William Cantler