The play begins at a birthday party, centering on a group of college students. Halfway through the party a stranger enters with a gun, and suddenly everyone's life is put on the line.
The friends are then forced to question what they really mean to each other, Bonner said.
The name "Deus Ex" drew inspiration from an old device used in Greek tragedies called the Deus Ex Machina. Bonner said the term originated after humans would make a mess out of things on Earth.
"The Deus Ex Machina was the divine intervention from the gods that would come into play and fix everything," Bonner said. "What we're trying to say, though, is that there is no divine intervention. We're operating outside the realm of where miracles can fix everything."
The idea for the play came to Bonner in June; however, he said it wasn't until 3 a.m. Aug. 11 when he finally sat down and wrote out the complete script. This first draft would later go through nine revision and workshop processes, including one trial run as an Outlaws performance, before coming out as tonight's final product.
The play, which Bonner describes as a tragic comedy, serves as a reaction to some real events and relationships that the director has encountered during his time at Penn State.
"Although the relationships are based on my life, I really feel that most people will be able to identify with it," Bonner said.
Mark Schroeder (junior-theatre), who plays the lead, John, agreed.
"People will definitely see parallels in their own lives," he said. "Every clique has those friendships problems that remain unspoken."
Schroeder said that he originally saw the play when it was presented by Outlaws, and he knew that he wanted to be a part of the final performance of the show.
"The character I get to play is incredibly interesting and complex," Schroeder said.
"He has the purest intentions with the wrong means of carrying them out ... he's the hero of his own story."
Derek Biddle (freshman-theatre arts), an actor from the previous Outlaws performance, said it really helps when the writer of the script is also the director.
"He knows exactly what he wants from us, essentially, because this play is him," Biddle said.
Cast members said they can tell the play is a very personal thing for Bonner, who has blushed while watching the play, and said the entire ordeal makes him feel very vulnerable.
"However, coming from someone that is so personally affected by the play, I couldn't be more pleased with the cast members," Bonner said. "They've done a superb job."
