Many possible scary outcomes in ‘Office Hour’ at Berkeley Rep

We hear about him before we see him as two of his previous instructors, David (Jeremy Kahn) and Genevieve (Kerry Warren), describe his behavior and his frightening writing.

They’re trying to warn Gina, but she seems to think there’s some hope.

That hope seems misguided when Dennis arrives at her office for a required 20-minute conference. Dressed all in black with dark sunglasses, baseball cap and hoodie hiding most of his face, he’s scary.

Official trailer: Office Hour from Berkeley Repertory Theatre on Vimeo.

During their meeting, several scenes illustrate possible outcomes, all of them scary or even deadly, that take place in her imagination. After each one, their encounter resumes as if nothing had changed.

Although she gradually gets this loner to open up about how he was bullied and how much he hates, Gina also reveals much about herself.

Perhaps there’s a rapport between them because they’re both first-generation Asian American. In one of the more amusing scenes, she gets him to pretend she is his mother talking to him on the phone.

The ending, or rather series of possible endings with all four characters, is chaotic.

This co-production with Long Wharf Theatre of Connecticut is crisply directed by Lisa Peterson. Despite its tendency toward talkiness, it maintains one’s attention.

Running a taut 80 minutes with no intermission, it will continue through March 25 in Berkeley Rep’s Peet’s Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. For tickets and information call (510) 647-2949 or visit berkeleyrep.org.