Is Life ‘Getting Betta’?

We’re well past Y2K, and it’s time to ask a few questions to better understand the age we’re living in. What is love? What is family? Does technology serve us, or do we serve technology? Do you have to be a human to be human?

You’ll laugh at, as much as ponder over, some of the answers suggested in Getting Betta, a play written by Don Fried that gets its West Coast premiere on Stage II of . Bruce Alexander, a frequent Playhouse actor, director and playwright, takes a directing turn with this  production.

A three-character cast navigates an emotional mine field in Fried’s clever and engaging send-up of new technology, assisted-living residences and modern relationships.

Meet senior citizen Michael (Gary Severen), a widower; a father to three children who never seem to have time to visit; and a retired computer systems programmer with nothing to challenge his intellect except for juggling three remotes to work his TV. He rails away at nosy neighbors and their pointless conversations, being pushed out of his job and the fact that his children have warehoused him in a retirement home. A terrible loneliness shines through his anger and frustration.

Enter Betta (Docy Andrews), a “basic electronic technology assistant” (aka a virtual assistant) that’s been wired into his unit of the ultramodern assisted-living center. Betta reminds Michael when to take his thyroid medication, tells him where he put his keys, warns him to turn off the burner on the stove, and records TV shows for him. She speaks nine languages and remembers everything she’s been told. But she doesn’t get idiomatic expressions, and Michael’s sarcastic jokes sail over her head.

“It’s not going to be any fun if you don’t understand when I throw zingers at you,” Michael says grumpily.

Michael soon meets Chrystal (Anya Lee), a software programmer who created Betta. Chrystal comes off as bright and talented yet a bit robotic in her single-minded drive to keep improving and perfecting Betta’s functionality.

“You don’t seem to be getting along with Betta as well as we’d hoped,” Chrystal says to Michael.

Before long, Chrystal’s initially calm demeanor begins to unravel to reveal a stressed-out and frail personality—and some of negative characteristics appear to rub off on Betta.

Chrystal has programmed Betta to learn to better assist Michael. To everyone’s surprise—including Betta’s—the virtual assistant figures out how to be more and more human. With each software upgrade, Betta gets better at being human. She understands Michael’s zingers and plays a few jokes on him. She vamps like Betty Boop. She starts nagging Michael about his health and begins complaining that she can’t do enough to please him.

Her initial joy at being upgraded to a hologram turns to disappointment. Betta has to explain to Michael that he still won’t be able to hold her to dance—an activity he had enjoyed with his now-departed wife, Pearl.

Betta also picks up some all-too-human baggage: fear. “What I’m terrified of are the same things that keep humans in cold sweats, like going to sleep and not waking up,” Betta confesses.

Getting Betta recently had its world premiere at Colorado’s Theater Company of Lafayette, where Fried is the resident playwright.

Fried, whose mother lives in San Juan, had sent the play for consideration at the urging of his friend, Chris Stancich, who won the Playhouse’s a few years ago.

“Having relationships is absolutely critical to having your play produced,” said Fried, who began writing plays just 4½ years ago following retirement from a corporate job in information technology services. “If you don’t, it’s a complete waste of time to submit one to a theater.”

Apparently, his talent for networking extends beyond the IT industry. Fried has written eight full-length plays, and all have been produced or are scheduled to be produced. In fact, his Shakespeare Incorporated, winner of the 2009 Rocky Mountain Theatre Association Festival Playwriting Competition, has been picked up for this summer’s Capistrano Shakespeare Festival.

Having been a business writer for 30-plus years, Fried is delighted to be writing creatively. “It’s a really good thing to start writing plays,” he said. “With plays, you have to be efficient. It’s great training for a writer.”

The trio of actors expressed their delight with Fried’s play. “Every night I think I discover something new about Betta,” said Andrews, who trained with renowned acting instructor Michael Shurtleff.

Andrews and Severen are making their debuts at Camino Real Playhouse. Lee is enjoying her second role with the Playhouse; her first was in the 2009 Halloween show, The Uninvited.

Getting Betta runs this weekend and next Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are $18 each. Buy tickets online at the virtual box office.