THE STORY: On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Sarah decides to brighten her spirits, and those of her friend Isobel, by throwing an impromptu dinner party. Sarah invites Bo, a wanna-be singer who, to the dismay of Isobel, invites Stu, Isobel’s ex-boyfriend. Isobel is deeply depressed over the break-up. She can barely look at Stu when he arrives, but fighting through tears she seeks only understanding and compassion from him. Feeling betrayed, Isobel has no other option but to wrestle her demons while feigning cordiality and contentment in the face of Sarah and Bo. Soon, the dinner party develops into an awkward facade of lost souls whose failure to communicate and find happiness has left them pitiful, hopelessly lonely and at the mercy of others.
“MERCY, Laura Cahill’s comedy of Manhattanites in their free-floating 20s, is an exploration of embryonic lives, and what you have as a result is a sweet…play.” —The New York Times.
