If you’ve been puzzled recently by fliers around campus displaying the minimalist message “and…and…and…” in white letters over black paper, the Ensemble Actors Theatre has gotten your attention. The newly formed troupe, founded by OSU theater majors Christopher Dickman, Laura Gale, Greg Maier and recent OSU graduate Creighton James, are vigorously promoting their production of “and…and…and,” a new play to be performed at the Madlab space, located downtown at corner of Grant Avenue and Long Street.Dickman, who wrote the play, describes it as a work of “surreal black comedy” whose college-aged characters find it increasingly difficult to connect with one another as the twin nooses of vice and uncertainty begin to tighten around their necks.”I think what makes the play accessible is the fact that it involves these young people who are going through all this stuff – trying to control the way your life is going and not being able to. My own life is all over this play,” Dickman said.James plays Martin, the neurotic core around whom the play’s ancillary characters – a neighbor, a roommate and a girlfriend – revolve. The smaller roles are filled by Dickman, Maier and Gale, respectively. The ensemble had long discussed forming a partnership. Having each received training from the OSU theater department and having performed in productions mounted in Columbus and New York with varying degrees of personal fulfillment, the group decided to break from school and do a show of their own.”Coming from a place of common training, we’re trying to create an environment of exploration, of experimentation with what we’ve learned,” Gale said.The conceptual allure of EAT soon gave way to practical concerns. Exhibiting “and…and…and…,” as Gale came to discover, proved to be an endeavor fraught with challenge.”There were so many things we’ve had to navigate our way through – reading scripts, thinking about advertising, getting out and talking to groups on campus, and trying to secure a performance space.”Although Madlab was quite accommodating, supplying performance space for a reasonable percentage of the play’s revenue, the four cast members had to divide the rest of the production cost between them and there is little hope, even if the performance opens to a packed house on Thursday, that the production will break even.”We may get reimbursed. More likely, we’ll just have to eat the money,” Dickman said.To four actors preparing to open a new play, however, such matters shrink in importance as their preoccupation with their craft becomes all-consuming.”An audience goes to the theater to live a little more than they do ordinarily,” said Dickman. “It’s a place where you’re allowed to feel things that you’re not allowed to feel in real life and if that stays with you after you leave the theater, our job is accomplished.” The play “and…and…and…” will be performed at 8 tonight at Madlab, 105 N. Grant Ave. Information and reservations for “and…and…and,” can be obtained by calling 299-2602.