Let Theatre North West steer you towards an evening of laughter when the season opener Becky's New Car accelerates on stage Sept. 29 to Oct. 16.
In the Steven Dietz comedy Becky Foster is in middle age, middle management and a middling marriage.
When lonely millionaire, Walter Flood, comes into the car dealership with car troubles a misunderstanding sends Becky and Walter on a collision course to comedy.
Actor Kent Allen from Saskatoon will take on the role of Walter.
It's a time of firsts for Allen as this is his inaugural appearance at Theatre North West, his first time playing the role of Walter and the first time he's ever played anyone like Walter.
"Walter is a very interesting chap," said Allen, who is a veteran award-winning actor. "He has inherited a very successful business and has managed to maintain it and even expand it and he's done well in that way but otherwise he seems terribly innocent. Not entirely socially aware, perhaps not as mature in many ways as one might expect of a man of business. But he is innocent in the nicest way."
Walter's innocence puts him in a juxtaposition where although he is older, the world is quite new to him, Allen added. And it wouldn't be any fun if that didn't get him into trouble every now and again.
"Not only does it put him in odd moments but it leads him into a world of wonderful charm and innocence but the naivety -- if allowed to run unbridled -- can be very dangerous," Allen said, who has nearly 130 professional performances to his credit.
Actors don't often find a character to play that have not been polished by age, he added. Walter is a diamond in the rough.
Allen said he believes that everything he needs to know about Walter is in the text.
"Then it's a matter of making sure that I try to deliver the text as honestly as I can," Allen said.
He finds the cast and staff at the theatre are very nice to work with and the community has made made him feel very welcome.
"I took the job without having read the script," Allen said. He knew director Kevin McKendrick and looked forward to working with him. "New environment new theatre, never been there and I really couldn't say no. Theatre is more than just about the play -- it's about the experience, who's involved. A positive experience will lead to a better show. It's a real treat to be here and the cast is just great."
Tickets for Becky's New Car are available at Books & Co., 1685 Third Avenue or by calling 250-614-0039.
