In Perpetuity throughout the Universe

Subject: Quicktake - "In Perpetuity Throughout the
Universe" by Eric Overmeyer

Date: Fri, June 16, 11:26 PM

Quicktake on IN PERPETUITY THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE

     Connoisseurs of
wordplay in the tradition of Ionesco and the Absurd
will be delighted with Whistler in the Dark's current
production of Eric Overmeyer's 1988 dark comedy "In
Perpetuity Throughout the Universe." This fragmented
after-dark peek into the purported world of
ghostwritten conspiracies, chain letters, and the
resurgence of Dr. Fu Manchu--aka the Yellow Peril--is
obliquely prophetic and potentially disquieting. The
second production of this new theatre group brings
back Lorna McKenzie and Jennifer O'Connor, who
appeared in their production of "The Possibilities"
earlier this season, along with Travis Boswell, Stacey
Kirk. Chuong Dinh Pham, and Alejandro Simoes to form
an interesting ensemble, all associated with the
publishing firm headed by Maria Montage. Simoes plays
Lyle Vial, who's getting chain-letter after
chain-letter. Pham plays Dennis Wu, an American of
Chinese extraction, and also appears as a sinister Far
Eastern merchant, Tranh Kirk plays his girlfriend,
Christine, who's been given a most important
assignment by editor-in -chief McKenzie. O'Connor is
her assistant, Buster, but also Mrs. Peterson, and the
Joculatrix, the Norman inventor of the chain letter.
And they all work for Boswell's Ampersand Qwerty. He
also plays Oscar Rang, a strange podiatrist.

     If this doesn't all quite
make sense, the show somehow does. Co-Artistic
director Ben Fainstein has directed the piece
efficiently on a simple set with simply defined
areas, Andrew Dickies' lighting helps define these as
needed. Kelly Leigh David's basic '80s costuming
gives the cast a slight retro look. Overmeyer's
convoluted scripts haven't been seen much around these
parts lately. Perhaps this energetic production will
encourage consideration of his unique--albeit
twisted--talents.

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"In Perpetuity Throughout the Universe" by Eric
Overmeyer, Jun.24 - July

Whistler in the Dark Theatre at Charlestown Working
Theatre

442 Bunker Hill St, Charlestown/ (866) 811 - 4111
Whistler in
the Dark