McCarthyism in hindsight

IN HINDSIGHT

Joseph McCarthy’s daughter dated a would-be traitor – or at least she does in Michael Hollinger’s 1950s Cold War paranoia satire “Red Herring,” world premiering at the Laguna Playhouse. How would director Andrew Barnicle describe the play? “It’s a farcical film-noir love story mystery thing,” he manages. Barnicle drew inspiration from his own experience of the period. “I remember the wide-eyed innocence and that we all thought we were living at the most perfect time in the history of the world,” he says. “And you look back and see some of the bizarre things going on and you wonder.” Pictured: Brendan Ford and DeeDee Rescher. 8 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., ends March 16. 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. $25-$65. (949) 497-2787; lagunaplayhouse.com