With tabloid headlines like "Dems Plant Sexy Intern To Seduce Bush," films like Oliver Stone's JFK, and "America First" candidates like Pat Buchanan, it's no wonder that American culture is regarded as paranoid. So it's incredibly appropriate that this paranoia should be used as a vehicle for the black humor in In Perpetuity Throughout the Universe, this year's theater, dance and film senior seminar production.

Written by Eric Overmeyer, In Perpetuity focuses on a group of writers who work for an agency that ghostwrites books with extreme ideological views, generally for the political right. These authors work on a nocturnal schedule, driven by the paranoid impulses of the night. They often end up writing about racist agendas and conspiracy theories that they don't even believe in, and sometimes come into conflict with their own private lives.

The central character of In Perpetuity is Christine, played by Lesley Grow '01. Christine is a new writer at the office, and gets assigned to write a book for white supremacist Mr. Ampersand Qwerty (Chris Chappell '01), which vilifies the Asian businessman Tai Tung Trahn (Colin Gilroy '01). While she's writing this, Christine has a romantic relationship with Dennis Wu (also Colin Gilroy), an all-American guy who also happens to be Asian. At the same time, she begins having dreams where Trahn appears as an over-the-top, B-horror movie, Fu Manchu-like character.

Other characters include Lyle Vile (Rich Lovejoy '01, also the assistant director), a chain-smoking insomniac whose conspiracy theories paint him as the office weirdo, Maria Montage (Dorothy Richard '02), the CEO of the ghostwriting agency, and Buster (Tülin Khalid '03), the office freak, and Maria's majordomo.

Jon Wood '01, the play's director, said they chose the play because "it's funny and has lots of solid opportunities for acting and character work." Wood also indicated that the density of the material makes it possibly the most difficult play attempted at the Other Room Theatre in the past four years. With only three weeks to rehearse, "putting this play together has been a very intensive process, but we've got a great cast and crew, and it's really coming together."

Wood, who designed the sets with Lesley Grow, says that the play will have the atmosphere of a noir film, and it will be reflected in the music, sets, costumes, and lighting (designed by Nicole Murray '02). This mood will be further enhanced with the music being played live by Chris Chappell.

Throughout In Perpetuity, Overmeyer purposely toys with multiple levels of reality, weaving together five distinct storylines. At the same time, many of the actors play two roles, which helps to accentuate the fine line between reality and imagination.

J. Stanley, visiting assistant professor of theater, who is the seminar's advisor, sees the talents of the cast and crew, the density of the ideas and story, and the intelligence of the playwright as some of the elements which should make this another excellent theater production. However, Overmeyer does not give the audience a free ride. "The key to this show is actively listening. You can't be lazy in this show if you want to understand it," Professor Stanley explained.

Overmeyer's characters have provided many opportunities and challenges for the actors, as well. Describing Qwerty's role in the story, Chappell called him "the grand puppeteer. Sort of a perpetual presence throughout the play. He doesn't have many scenes, but his presence is felt throughout." Lovejoy played up the darker elements of his character, as well, saying that "Lyle is a fun character because he talks directly to the audience most of the time. He is very funny, but there is also something tragic about him."

The most challenging of the performances probably belongs to Gilroy, cast as both Dennis and Trahn. While on the surface there may only be two characters, Gilroy sees them as four: "The challenge for me is playing Dennis, ridiculously evil Tai Tung Trahn trying to be respectable, this uninhibitedly evil Trahn, and finally real-life Trahn, who is much less of a caricature. Dennis makes a good contrast to all the aspects of Tai Tung Trahn. And then there's the experience of learning some Chinese for the part."

In dealing with these paranoid conspiracies and mysterious networks of racial and cultural prejudice, Overmeyer makes a strong statement about how this kind of thinking permeates our cultural fabric. Lovejoy summed up what the audience can expect from this production: "This play manages to be funny and terrifying. It will have something for everyone who comes -- paranoia, conspiracy, romance, mystery. Imagine "The X-Files" on crack."

In Perpetuity Throughout the Universe will be performed at the Other Room Theatre on 27 and 28 April 2001.

© 2001 The College Reporter. Reprinted with permission.