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	Train accident didnât hobble comic

	By Lisa Opsahl-Lang The Metropolitan

	Heâs pale and wan with a prosthetic arm, and he can make an audience laugh until everyoneâs face and stomach muscles feel like they havenât been used in years. He is Don Becker, a Denver playwright, author, actor and poet who is returning to his roots in stand-up comedy after a five-year absence. He originally left comedy, where he worked with Roseanne, Dennis Miller and Robin Williams, when he had an accident. ãI wanted to shake hands with a moving train,ä Becker said of the accident that caused him to lose his arm. Becker had a psychotic episode, and the train incident occurred during his lapse from reality. He shares this story in his act, where he explores the roles of mental illness, religion, sex and drugs in his life. Becker delivers his act with George Carlinâs brevity, Robin Williamsâ storytelling and Dennis Millerâs sarcasm. He interlaces drug pieces throughout the show, beginning with, ãheroin was developed as a cure for morphine addiction. It worked.ä When on mushrooms, he gets ãthe urge to drive to Winslow, Ariz., in a flatbed Ford and shoot Jackson Browne in the back of the head, execution-style. Itâs a long story, and itâs not his fault.ä ãI donât experiment with drugs,ä he mused. ãI know exactly what Iâm doing.ä He also takes the audience through the realm of mental illness. Becker smoothes into the material by talking about actress Patty Dukeâs multiple personality disorder. Becker says this isnât surprising, since Duke played identical cousins on her classic TV show. He quotes her theme song. ãÎPatty likes to rock ânâ roll. A hot-dog makes her lose control.â ãIf a hot dog makes you lose control you need Stellazine,ä he said. Stand-up isnât a form of therapy for him. Heâs done therapy and said he doesnât want people to feel sorry for him. ãMy life is great,ä he said. ãIâve got a play opening in New York, a book deal and a 27-year-old girlfriend whoâs a sexual triathlete.ä Beckerâs act is not polished stand-up club shtick. Itâs a work in progress, being created on the stage. He asks questions, flips through notes and has a question-and-answer session at the end. Because he is editing the content as he is delivering it, there are pauses and retakes, unlike a regular show. He also willingly accepts criticism from the audience. Laughs are frequent, and the material pushes empathy, evokes critical thinking and includes a lot of philosophical and literary references. Plus thereâs a lot of swearing and a reference to having sex with a duck. Becker performs at 11 p.m. Fridays, until he get tired of it, at Jackâs Theater, 1553 Platte St., second floor. Cost: $5. Information: 430-2907.