By John Lyle Belden

In today’s social media world, more than your banking information is at risk.

In local performer and playwright Paige Scott’s new drama, “Black Hat Duncan,” presented by Storefront Theatre of Indianapolis, a regular internet user – adept, but not a coder – gets caught in a bizarre trap.

Deidre (Carrie Ann Schlatter) finds herself drunk-texted by Mandy (Miranda Nehrig), a young woman she has never met. After dealing with some naughty photos, and later, a costly scam, Deidre finally tracks down her apparent attacker, only to find that Mandy was hacked as well.

Between scenes with the women, the mysterious Black Hat (Joshua Ramsey) presents himself to the audience. He’s wearing a mask, of course, but he is confident you will never find him. Still, he can find you. In true gloating-villain style, he presents his nihilistic reasoning, twisted justification for his psychopathy, and how he so easily accomplished the “punishment” of his latest victim.

And we find that he is not the only one with misdeeds and secrets.

Directed by Chelsea Anderson, this cast is a wonderful blend of actors who seem to enjoy playing a little dark, energizing their performances in this very of-the-moment story. Scott’s cautionary tale fascinates and entertains, presenting an online underworld that reveals just how close our tech is to a Mission: Impossible adventure. Just hope the agent you’re working with wears a White Hat.

Projected images of cell and internet activity include some lingerie shots, so audience members must check their own phones in a secure box kept by Storefront staff during the performance, to prevent life from imitating this art.

One weekend of this world premiere of “Black Hat Duncan” remains, Friday through Sunday, July 21-23, at 2416 E. 55^th Place (across from the North Keystone Meijer), Indianapolis. All tickets are pay-what-you-can. For info and reservations, go to storefrontindy.com.