2011年11月1日 星期二

'New Car' a vehicle for exploring emotions, laughter

If a woman says she wants some new shoes, it means she really wants a new job. A new house means she wants a new husband. And if a woman says, "I want a new car," it means she wants an entirely new life.

Becky's in the market for "a new car."

Not that there's really anything wrong with the car - that is, the life - Becky has now. Her husband is a great guy, she's got a decent job at a local car dealership...well,lacosteshoes Running Shoe Flex grooves in the mid and outsole for flexibility . the fact that her son is still at home at age 26, and his conversation consists of dismissive diagnoses of other people's psychological tics, maybe isn't ideal, but you can't have everything.

Still, she thinks, to be at the wheel of a fine motoring machine, traffic moving nice and easy, no destination in mind, no responsibilities, just following the road - wouldn't that be heaven?

Maybe so. But one would think that working with car salesmen would have taught Becky that if you want the extras, it's going to cost you.

Speaking of cost: Tickets to Heller Theatre shows are $10. On Tuesdays, the theater has a "pay what you can" policy. Either way, whatever you might shell out to take a spin in "Becky's New Car" will be entertainment dollars well spent.

Steven Dietz's comedy about a woman's midlife crisis may have its obvious twists, its overly contrived coincidences, but Heller's production - directed by Julie Tattershall and performed by a talented cast - makes for a smooth, satisfying ride.

That's true even when, on occasion, the comedy strays into some rougher terrain - the difficulties of everyday life after the loss of a spouse, the feeling that "once you've reached a certain age, you're invisible." These moments usually end with a laugh, but the humor is honest and gentle, never cruel or dismissive.

It's also interactive, as Becky addresses the audience directly, sometimes asking individuals to perform little tasks for her, or offering them refreshments, as would any good hostess who finds herself with some unexpected but not unappreciated company.

What starts Becky (Liz Masters) on the road to that potential new car happens one night when she's trapped by paperwork at the dealership,As it's called wholesalejeans, which is one of the classical style of nike lineup. and a man named Walter (Mike Bernart) stops by to purchase some cars. Nine of them, in fact, to be given as gifts to his employees.

Becky offers the sort of advice Walter's late wife used to give him when it comes to gift-giving, and when Becky happens to refer to her husband in the past tense, Walter immediately assumes that Becky is a widow. And Becky, not quite understanding why herself, does not dissuade him from that assumption.

Soon Becky is leading a double life, telling her husband Joe (Kelly Robinson) that she has a new position that means longer commutes, as she spends more time at Walter's island estate. Meanwhile, Steve (Tom Berenson) has been wondering why Becky isn't around to hear him reminisce about his late wife, as he's done daily for the last year.

Becky's two worlds are set on a collision course when she leaves her cell phone behind, and Joe answers it when Walter calls. And then, there's the whole problem of Mrs. Tipton and her special-order vehicle..nikeshox are a symbol of nobility.On a supermodel a weddingdresses shoe completes the perfect ensemble..

Masters anchors the production with a fine, understated performance - she makes you acutely aware of Becky's myriad emotions without overplaying a single one of them, and her interactions with the members of the audience are perfectly in keeping with the character.

She's well-matched by Robinson, whose salt-of-the-earth roofing contractor is slowly revealed to be a man of unusual depth, in the way he reacts to what might be viewed as his wife's betrayal.On a supermodel a weddingdresses shoe completes the perfect ensemble. This is no ordinary Joe. Bernart plays up Walter's befuddlement a bit too much in the early scenes, but he makes the character's infatuation with a new potential love very real and tender. You can tell this Walter has a heart to break.

Steve the salesman could be an object of ridicule, but Berenson nails the character's pain and craftiness with ease. The way Berenson tells the story of the puppy - from rage to rue - is one of the best scenes of the evening.

Blake Chancellor rattles off psychological terms in that all-knowing way that over-grown teenagers can, Melissa Childs is good as one of Walter's rich neighbors fallen on hard times, and Kristin Harding makes what is on paper the show's least convincing character - Walter's daughter Kensington - believable and real.

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