Bug

Ever since the Warren Commission whitewashed JFK's assassination, the term "conspiracy theory" has been used by the perpetrators as an ad hominem argument to marginalize those who have gone outside the box of the centrally-owned mass media (a half-dozen conglomerates in the U.S.) to put forth evidence that refutes the one-party line used to cover-up the hijacking of the U.S. government by corporations.

Witness the White House describing Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) as "talking to aliens on the grassy knoll" when she presented just a small portion of the massive data that indicts the Bush family, Cheney, and the boys in the operations carried out on 9-11—something that they, in fact, have told us they were planning to do as early as 1997, to wit:

"...the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event—like a new Pearl Harbor..."
—The Project for the New American Century, signed by Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Jeb Bush, and Paul Wolfowitz on June 3, 1997. (see www.newamericancentury.org

While most Americans have no idea that their "leaders" have been planning their current scorched earth policies for decades, outside our borders there are such no illusions.

"The interests behind the Bush Administration, such as the CFR [Council on Foreign Relations—ed.], the Trilateral Commission—founded by Brzezinski for David Rockefeller—and the Bilderberger Group, have prepared for and are now moving to implement open world dictatorship within the next five years. They are not fighting against terrorists. They are fighting against citizens."
—Dr. Johannes B. Koeppl, Ph.D., former German defense ministry official and advisor to former NATO Secretary General Manfred Werner

The conspirators are quite brazen about their intent...

"We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis and the nations will accept the New World Order."
—David Rockefeller

And,

"The world can therefore seize the opportunity [Persian Gulf crisis] to fulfill the long-held promise of a New World Order where diverse nations are drawn together in common cause to achieve the universal aspirations of mankind."
—George Herbert Walker Bush

...except when they're talking to the masses.

"Let us never tolerate outrageous conspiracy theories concerning the attacks of September the 11th."
—President George W. Bush, speaking to the United Nations.

In true Orwellian fashion, the real conspiracy theorists are none other than those pointing the finger.

"We are grateful to The Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subject to the bright lights of publicity during those years. But, the work is now much more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national autodetermination practiced in past centuries."
—David Rockefeller, founder of the Trilateral Commission, in an address to a meeting of the Trilateral Commission, in June, 1991.

Rockefeller and his fellow conspirators have the arrogance to think their brand of totalitarianism and murder is preferable to others:

"The drive of the Rockefellers and their allies is to create a one-world government combining supercapitalism and Communism under the same tent, all under their control. ... Do I mean conspiracy? Yes I do. I am convinced there is such a plot, international in scope, generations old in planning, and incredibly evil in intent."
—Congressman Larry P. McDonald, 1976, killed in the Korean Airlines 747 that was shot down by the Soviets

Chris Reid as Peter and Kendra Crain McGovern as RC Photo: Michael Ensminger

In the regional premiere of Tracey Lett's Bug, the issue of conspiracy is raised by Peter, a drifter who shows up one afternoon with RC at Agnes' Oklahoma City motel room. When RC splits to rescue a friend, Peter stays behind with Agnes. Between drinks and bowls of crack, Peter and Agnes get to know each other.

As the days drift into weeks, and their drug consumption increases, Peter's speculations concerning government and corporate involvement in biological warfare (Yes, more than a dozen world-class micro-biologists have been killed since 9-11.) begins to expand from known incidents of virus cloning (Legionnaires Disease and AIDS, in this case, but he could have included SARS and Avian Flu) to a plot directed specifically at him by the military (PSYOPS). Agnes buys into Peter's extrapolations, and begins to see the same bugs that he sees in the blood samples that he has taken from himself and views under a microscope.

Rhonda Lee Brown as Agnes Photo: Michael Ensminger

Director Chip Walton has done a brilliant job of casting and directing the show. Chris Reid, is stunning as the wired paranoiac, Peter, whose reaction to his crawling skin is so visceral that we begin to scratch with him. Rhonda Lee Brown, as Agnes, the brow-beaten ex-wife of an ex-con, sets a languid mood as a poster girl for white trash. She shows us how she's been broken by the men and events of her life, yet still desperately continues in search of love, however twisted her version may be.

Michael McNeill as Jerry Goss Photo: Michael Ensminger

Kendra Crain McGovern, as Agnes' no-nonsense, loyal butch friend, RC, is the quintessential party girl with a big heart, in black from head to toe, with six rings to trace her non-stop personality. Michael McNeill is an imposing threat as Jerry Goss, Agnes' ex-, whose prison savvy attitude gives us chills.

John Arp as Dr. Sweet Photo: Michael Ensminger

In the end, though, it is Dr. Sweet that presents the only credible attempt by the playwright at counter-balancing Peter's and Agnes' far-fetched delusions and paranoia concerning government plots. And while John Arp gives us every reason to believe that the doctor has been part of some organized effort that used Peter as a guinea pig, it is not enough to undo the message that conspiracy theorists are drug-addled psychos.

So, while Bug is unquestionably exciting theatre, its message concerning so-called conspiracy theories serves only to bolster the ignorance and confusion around such issues, playing right into the hands of those perpetrating actual conspiracies, and putting its violence at the service of those who thrive on such demonstrations to instill fear.

Curious Theatre Company's production of Bug runs through December 17th.

Bob Bows