This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Becky's New Car cycles between life's real pathos - the loss of mystery and the unknown that can come with age, and the humor that insulates one from the ravages of age, with doses of sarcasm and double entendre as its spices.
Written by Stephen Dietz and directed by Rob Mess, Becky’s New Car stars Mandy Lahey as Becky Foster, a title clerk and process manager at a car dealership, who is in a marriage with her loving husband Joe Foster (Robert Janacek). At home, Becky’s stalling life consists of delivery pizza and cleaning up the messes left behind by her son, Chris (Alex Moore); At work, she shifts into high gear as she handles more than she can chew, often dealing with angry phone calls from customers and late nights completing paperwork.
One evening, a man by the name of Walter Flood (Steve Rausch) enters the dealership looking to purchase cars for his employees. Becky agrees to help and soon finds herself with a phone number and a complete misunderstanding. To say anything more would spoil the second act, but rest assured, it is a frantic journey worth taking.
If by this point you’re thinking Becky’s New Car sounds like just another comedy about a midlife crisis, you’re heavily mistaken. While most comedies about a midlife crisis focus on the man’s perspective, Becky’s New Car flips that convention completely. In fact, The Longmont Theatre’s production will help translate what women really want when they say “I want a new car”. Hint: it’s not a new car.
Additionally, there is a level of connectivity that occurs the minute the show starts. Throughout the evening, Becky interacts with audience members as she instructs them to finish paperwork for her boss, or gets their opinion whether she should spend a special evening away from home. While there are countless more, which won't be spoiled, these moments draw us further into Becky’s life. We become part of her midlife crisis and her journey.
The set, cleverly designed by Bunk Hess, Deb Zarich, Rob Mess, and Robert Janacek, is littered with roads and intersections which helps further convey this journey, as well as the distance and passage of time between set locations. It even helps allude to the deeper meaning behind the production, as Becky is faced with, mostly due to her own actions, countless “intersections" of life on which to act upon.
As far as performances go, Mandy Lahey and Robert Janacek are excellent as Becky and Joe Foster; Peter Johnson who plays Steve, Becky’s boss, is hilarious and will keep you laughing throughout the evening. Steve Rausch does a fine job as Walter Flood, the older wealthier man that appears in Becky’s life. Robin Zavala (who was the narrator in last month’s Rocky Horror Show) plays Kenni Flood, Walter’s daughter, and has great stage presence along with Alex Moore as Chris, Becky and Joe’s son.
Becky’s New Car is a fun, energetic, frantic, comedic, and emotional production that brings a fresh perspective to the midlife crisis. The clever and witty dialogue will keep you entertained and the audience engagement ties it in altogether by bringing you along for the ride. Just make sure to buckle up - safety first.
‘Becky's New Car’ is presented by The Longmont Theatre Company at 513 Main Street. Show dates are November 10, 11, 17, and 18 at 7:30 p.m. and November 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. Please visit longmonttheatre.org or call 303-772-5200 for tickets.
Mark Ivins also contributed to this article.
