What is this play about?

Hey all:

So I have been reading your blogs and I also have had the opportunity to speak with a few of you in the halls...looks like there is a good reaction to THE MERCY SEAT. But there also seems to be a bit of, "well, what exactly is this play about?" Good question. I'm not sure, either. Check out what Labute says in the intro of the play. Knocks the idea that this is a 9/11 play down a bit, huh? Thomas, though, feels a relief that the play isn't about 9/11 solely because, like Ben, how do you talk about the event without sounding ridiculous?

Jaime has an interesting take on the play, "This play is very much about doing the right thing, and what's more, choosing to do the right thing even if it's the hardest thing you've ever had to do." Hmm...I like Jaime's moral certainty here but one thing I know about Labute always questions all types of certainty. I'll be interested if you all think that Ben did the right thing at the end? Or was it even more selfish? Or, with people posting pictures of dead loved ones--who cares?

Jose mentions that (among many of the things that he listed) "The Female lead is a strong character but is easily bothered or offended by remarks that underscore her "deviant" gender related behavior." But is Abby a strong figure? What the heck is she doing with Ben who seems like such a little boy at times? Is Labute showing a complicated female role or is he just writing a stereotypical character? Jessica also seems to have some reservations about Abby.

Okay, some really good thoughts. Also, I see a lot of you are getting comfortable with the blog form itself. Keep notes on how you feel as you write these blogs. Some of you are revealing a lot about yourselves, some are staying specifically on the subject of the class. Regardless, I want you to think about the form of the blog and your "creation" process.

Okay, folks, ONWARD!

p.s. Remember, try to make the blog part of your normal life--don't think of it as a forced assignment (if you can) but rather as something thta you turn to when you have ideas, comments, thoughts....