▁Category : But ter f lies ▁described ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁Category : P or iti inae ▁Category : End em ic ▁fa una ▁of ▁Niger ia ▁Category : But ter f lies ▁of ▁Africa <0x0A> </s> ▁Mercur y ▁Fur ▁is ▁a ▁play ▁written ▁by ▁Philip ▁R id ley ▁which ▁premier ed ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁It ▁is ▁R id ley ' s ▁fifth ▁adult ▁stage ▁play ▁and ▁premier ed ▁at ▁the ▁P ly mouth ▁Theatre ▁Royal , ▁before ▁moving ▁to ▁the ▁Men ier ▁Ch oc olate ▁Factory ▁in ▁London . ▁ ▁Set ▁against ▁the ▁back drop ▁of ▁a ▁d yst op ian ▁London , ▁the ▁narr ative ▁focus es ▁on ▁a ▁party ▁at ▁which ▁the ▁tort ure ▁and ▁murder ▁of ▁a ▁child ▁is ▁the ▁main ▁entertain ment . ▁ ▁The ▁original ▁production ▁was ▁directed ▁by ▁John ▁T iff any ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁This ▁Other ▁England ▁season ▁of ▁new ▁writing ▁by ▁P aines ▁Pl ough ▁and ▁Theatre ▁Royal , ▁P ly mouth ▁in ▁England . ▁The ▁part ▁of ▁Elli ot ▁was ▁played ▁by ▁Ben ▁Wh ish aw , ▁who ▁had ▁achieved ▁fame ▁the ▁previous ▁year ▁for , ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁only ▁ 2 3 , ▁port ray ing ▁Ham let ▁in ▁Tre vor ▁N unn ' s ▁production ▁at ▁the ▁Old ▁Vic ▁Theatre ▁in ▁London , ▁for ▁which ▁he ▁was ▁nominated ▁for ▁an ▁Oliv ier ▁Award ▁for ▁Best ▁A ctor . ▁ ▁The ▁play ▁is ▁particularly ▁noted ▁for ▁being ▁the ▁subject ▁of ▁controvers y : ▁R