“Becky’s New Car” is the latest light comedy showing at the Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville.
Becky Foster (Nichole Hamilton) is a mid-life wife, married to roofing contractor husband Joe Foster (Adam Lishawa) and has a 26-year-old perpetual student Chris (Niall McGinty), now taking psychology with a mind- set like Jeremy in “Zits.” The play opens in Becky’s home and she entreats the audience for assistance in house cleaning, offering them beverages, newspapers, and general interactive conversation which continues throughout the play.
Becky is the office manager for a car dealership. Having to deal with paper work, a whining car salesman Steve (Bryan Mercer) and her hum-drum home life while staying positive, is a challenge. Her mantra is “When a woman says she needs new shoes she really wants a new job. A new house means a new husband. But a new car means a new life!”
Late one evening, a wealthy man, Walter Flood (Gregory Jones) enters the dealership and wants to buy nine cars as gifts for his employees. As the conversation progresses Becky learns Walter is recently widowed and relied on his wife to do these non-business things for him. Becky slips into the role of Walter’s surrogate wife with helping decide the gifts. Walter wrongly assumes that Becky is widowed, too. She tries to dissuade the idea, but it morphs into a possible “What if I was widowed?” Walter invites Becky, he prefers Rebecca, to a party at his home. Reluctantly Becky accepts. How does she get away? It is a three-hour drive, ferryboat crossing, and a long drive to Walter’s home.
Becky contrives a story that the dealership is moving three hours away and she has to go to a meeting of investors. Ever-loving husband Joe gives her his blessing and a key to an apartment to stay at so she doesn’t have to drive home late at night. Becky brings three women down on stage to help her dress, and accessorize before leaving. These “meetings” continue for some time.
Becky meets the daughter Kennsington (Kenni) Flood (Chelsie Stancil) and now destitute neighbor Ginger (Catherine Fries Vaughn) Walter wants to throw his wedding ring away to start a new path in life and wants Rebecca to do the same.
Chris tells his mother he has a new girlfriend and has had an attitude adjustment for the good. Steve at the agency learns there isn’t a relocation of the dealership and suspects an affair of the boss is with Becky (Her promotion and bonus which were really from selling nine cars plus a duplicate to the car Steve sold titled to Becky). Eventually Joe and Walter meet and learn that Chris is dating Kenni and wants to marry her. Joe learns where Becky has actually been going and who she was seeing.
How does this all resolve? Just drive up the road to Gainesville and learn the interesting outcome and resolution.
The thrust stage always adapts itself to different settings even with all the physical limitations. Becky’s New Car comprises four different locations. The Home, Dealership Office, Walter Flood’s Home, and the Car are all in one with spotlights highlighting each area of use. The striking vision and conceptual design by scenic designer Timothy Dygert is amazing.
The play runs through March 19 and is a must-see production.
Villager Don Simson reviews local theater for Villages-News.com