Becky's New Car
Becky's New Car, playing at the Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice, is a charmer that boasts a terrific cast and a well-written play by Steven Dietz. Sometimes members of the audience even become involved in the plot.
The time is the present in a city (probably Seattle) where Becky Foster (Joanna) works in the office of a car dealership where she is barraged by the lamentations of Steve (the amusing Christopher Shaw) who still pities himself over the loss of his wife. Her 26-year old son Joe (Jon Eric Preston) is still living at home while he studies psychology and never stops offering psychological words of advice to everyone around him. (Becky is constantly cleaning up behind him.) She is still in love with her husband Chris (Nick Rogers) of 28 years who works as a roofer. Becky is not experiencing an unhappy life but probably going through a midlife crisis and perhaps is bored with the "same ole same ole."
Suddenly, while working alone late one evening at the dealership, Becky is given a chance for a new life when a millionaire, Walter Flood (the charming Brad Greenquist) shows up and purchases nine cars from her for his employees. Walter is infatuated with Becky and mistakenly believes her to be a widow. She wants to set him straight, but somehow finds herself unable to do so. By not being truthful, she finds herself living two lives (and definitely no longer bored) until one day the "shoe falls." Meanwhile, the humor flies throughout this very entertaining play.
Other members of the cast include Jules Willcox as Walter's daughter Kensington (Kenni) and Suzanne Ford as Ginger, a friend of the Floods who takes a quick liking to Becky, all under the skillful direction of Michael Roghhaar. The very adaptable stage design is by William Wilday.
Becky's New Car plays Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 3 PM, closing Aug. 15, 2010.
Pacific Resident Theatre
703 Venice Blvd.
Venice, CA
Tickets: online at www.PacificResidentTheatre.com, or at (310) 822-8392