"The more I do, the further behind I get," said Becky Foster, played by Francine Birns, in the new Main Street Players production Becky's New Car. "Anyone else feel like that?" She motions to the audience for feedback. Echoes of sighs, muffled laughs, and empathetic grunts fill the room.
Becky's New Car expertly breaks down the fourth wall and creates an atmosphere unlike any other play. Becky converses with the audience, enlists them in various comedic tasks and most importantly transforms the play from a distanced, theatrical visual into an engaged session of opinions and emotions. Everyone in the theater is but another passenger in Becky's new car and the winding roads she calls her life.
To effectively play a character like Becky, one must be quick on their feet, as every new showing is another improvisation opportunity. The success of the play relies on the chemistry of all the characters, but the large role of Becky Foster places much of the weight on Birns' shoulders to carry the show, a weight she manages with flawless grace.
Becky's average life with her husband, Joe (played by Ron Torres), and her son, Chris played by Jason Lyzniak), is a relatively good one, but not one that leaves much room for adventure. Enter Walter Flood (played by Harry Marsh). Walter's endless cash-flow and aloofness contributes to his aimless and helpless nature. In trying to find a suitable gift for his co-workers, he thinks to buy what any man with no sense and a lot of cash would: cars.
"I'm just terrible at gifts" Walter says with an amusing note of sincerity.
Walter's chance meeting with Becky at the dealership she works at send them both off into a thrilling adventure, though the chaos in their wake follows quick at their heels.
Back at home is Joe, and despite his simple life, he is instantly charming, witty and sardonic, a seemingly perfect match with Becky, enough so that you question what might Becky see in Walter with a husband like Joe around. Chris, a psychology major still living in his parent's home, often poses existential questions and recites psychobabble, and yet is still keen enough to pick up on the subtle changes happening within his home.
Walter's daughter Kenni (played by Illeana Hernandez), and friend Ginger (played by Lucy Nunez), as well as Becky's co-worker, Steve, (played by Brian McCormack) become inevitably involved in Becky's life. With the internal conflict of choosing faithfulness or adventure, Becky manages to live two lives until a car and a misunderstanding give her a way out.
More than one life is changed, and one life is lost. Despite the comedy, at its heart, Becky's New Car is about grief, and the choices we all make to cope with the hand life has dealt us.
The show is directed by Main Street Players’ Artistic Director, Robert Coppel with Clara Lyzniak as assistant director.
The production showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM, Sundays at 2:00 PM. There is no performance on Friday, August 1, but an additional performance will be presented on Sunday, August 3 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available online or at the door. Adults are $25, seniors (62+) are $20 and students (with current school ID) are $18. For more information visit the website at www.mainstreetplayers.com or call 305-558-3737.