Take "Becky's New Car" for a Drive

Just wanted to detour a bit from the promised next post on how the Government can't save you. Like anyone needs to be told that. Personally I'm looking for a cave to store provisions for when the earth opens up and swallows my neighborhood. Which is pretty much a certainty given the rapid influx of North Dallas Yuppies. Never did I imagine that my neighborhood, where Stevie Ray Vaughan once lived, would become so choked with SUVs and landscape architecture.

Instead, we're going to give some favorable pub to Zachary Scott Theatre's new production of "Becky's New Car," starring Lauren Lane, and a really outstanding cast (nearly half of whom are Equity members). Though the show hardly needs it. Saturday night's show was completely sold out.

How do I know about this show? Because when you're in your 40s, that's what you do when you go out. In your teens, you go to the mall, and try to obtain contraband alcohol (well, not me, of course). In your 20s, you go to clubs and stay out entirely too late (and ruin your hearing in the process). You spend your 30s going to coffee shops and comedy clubs. The word "stale" comes to mind a lot during those times. And in your 40s, you take in art. Museums, galleries, performances of all kinds...opera, ballet, symphony, plays, and functions ancillary to same. Like fundraisers. To have the botox or viagra concession at the Long Center. Life would be swimming pools, movie stars...

But Zach Scott has really had some fun shows, and this one is no exception. Daily Affirmations enthusiastically supports Lauren Lane. We loved The Nanny. Mom watched practically every episode and loved the show. And it was the only show on American television ever to have a character resembling Noel Coward (until Stewie on Family Guy) in the form of Niles the Butler. Niles' foil during all those years was the character C.C. Babcock, played admirably by Lauren Lane. Lane moved to Austin to be near her daughter, is on the Texas State drama faculty, and has won local acting awards. And her voice is spookily similar to Lisa Beaudo's, though without a North Texas/Kilgore Rangerette accent.

The show, a "dramedy," involves a woman prompted to consider her life situation after 28 years of marriage through a series of Three's Company-like coincidences and miscommunications. With an adult child ensconced in her basement on a seemingly permanent basis while taking endless graduate-level classes, and with a daily grind resembling many working mothers/wives, Becky is ripe for an adventure. The adventure comes in the form of Walter Flood, wealthy and recently widowed billboard owner. From there, wacky hijinks ensue.

The show is very funny, particularly in the first act. It features some "audience participation," although nothing of the standup comedian variety. But you may want to consider whether to sit on the first row. The second act introduces more characters and more complexity, and takes a detour to Serious Town. Yet all the while there's some pretty funny writing.

But on the whole its a fun show, not to be missed. Try to make it if you can.

Next-more gloom and doom.