Our first visit to The Players Theatre, tucked away on McDougal Street in the East Village, immediately set the tone for the evening. From the outside, it feels modest and almost hidden, but step inside and you find an intimate black box space of around fifty seats that draws you straight into the work. It is exactly the kind of venue where a piece like Mercury can thrive.
Written by Jayson McDonald, the production makes excellent use of that intimacy. With a cast of three, Emily Pazmino, Avery Baxter and Nelia McNicol, and a simple but cleverly designed set, the show moves between a diner and an apartment space with ease. Lighting and sound do a lot of the heavy lifting, creating atmosphere and guiding the audience through shifts in time, place, and perspective without ever feeling overdone.
What makes Mercury particularly compelling is its structure. The three performers rotate through the same characters, offering different perspectives on the same story. Scenes return in fragments, each time revealing more detail and deepening the narrative. It has the feel of a thriller, where information is carefully drip fed, building tension with each pass. You are never watching the same moment twice. You are watching it evolve.
The direction of Lil Malinich is confident and precise. There is a strong sense of control in how the story is revealed, supported by recurring visual cues such as shifting lights and color changes that signal something beneath the surface. The suspense builds steadily, and you are constantly aware that a larger reveal is approaching.
Performance-wise, the cast is impressive. Each actor not only switches roles but reinterprets them, subtly altering tone, energy, and even naming. It reinforces the idea that identity is not fixed, and it keeps the audience engaged rather than confused. Costume choices support this well, maintaining consistent color themes while allowing each performer’s version of the character to feel distinct.
The tone blends dark comedy with something more sensual and modern. At its core, there is a contemporary love story, but it is fractured and layered, reflecting a fast-paced world where perspectives shift quickly. The constant movement between viewpoints keeps the piece feeling fresh and dynamic.
If there is a point to refine, it is the ending. After such a strong and deliberate build, the final moments arrive slightly too quickly. There is room to let the climax breathe and land with more weight, particularly given how effectively the tension has been constructed throughout.
That said, seeing this on opening night feels like catching something with real potential. The foundations are strong, the concept is engaging, and the performances are already compelling. It is easy to imagine this developing further over the run.
A smart, stylish, and engaging production, and a memorable introduction to The Players Theatre. A strong four, edging into four and a half, with every chance of climbing higher as it settles.
We are giving this 4/5 Ds (D D D D)
Mercury runs at the Players Theatre until May 17th, more information and tickets available here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/277/production/1247888
Cast & Creative
Nelia McNicol as Jeanette Planchette, Stephanie Parkinson, Barbara Carol
Avery Baxter as Steph Perkins, Jeannie Platt, Carol Bingeman
Emily Pazmino as Carrie Bartlett, Stevie Pertree, Janet Patton
Lil Malinich – Director
Jayson McDonald – Playwright
Sonnet Noel Whitaker – Original Song
Jen Leno – Lighting Designer
Edu Diaz – Graphic Designer
Carson White – Stage Manager
Geve – Photographer
Skyler Fike – Photographer