Ryan Carlson in The Classic King, running at the Purple Rose Theatre until March 15, 2026. | Photo by Sean Carter
I’ve never been much interested in the inner workings of a car dealership, and since watching the Purple Rose Theatre’s latest play, The Classic King, I can’t say that has changed. The comedy, which runs until March 15, follows four car salesmen on a mission to save their failing dealership. Directed by Jeff Daniels, the show is a world premiere and the first professionally produced play by Richard Johnson. Johnson began playwriting after retiring from a career as an automotive journalist, including serving as editor of Automotive News.
The action takes place inside a classic car dealership in Metro Detroit that’s on the brink of going under. We meet veteran salesmen Mike (Rico Bruce Wade), Jerry (Ryan Carlson), and Chance (Dez Walker). Dealership owner Mike and Jerry are longtime colleagues and share a passion for cars and their work, as well as damage to their marriages as a result. Chance is an ex-felon starting over, often charming but with an edge if you cross him. Braden (Owen Squire Smith), a well-connected Gen Zer with the potential to save the dealership, enters soon thereafter, stirring up both hope and resentment. The entire story is told within the dealership offices as the four share the highs, lows, and often comical aspects of selling cars.
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As someone who doesn’t know much about cars—and has no desire to change that—the show’s ninety minutes of near-constant car talk got tedious. I was hoping the play would reveal a softer, more human, more broadly accessible side of car salesmen. While there were elements of that, it did little to change my perception of them as slick, manipulative, and untrustworthy. Most of the characters weren’t outwardly “bad,” but none of them were particularly endearing or interesting either. As my friend said, “It reminds me of how much I hate buying a car.”
The show’s humor is more amusing than laugh-out-loud funny, based on ribbing among the characters and their approach to their customers. TV commercials where each character shows his different personality were a highlight. Braden’s heart-tugging ad treating the dealership as an animal shelter full of abandoned pets in need of rescue—complete with Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” playing in the background—was one of the funniest moments in the show.
Carlson’s Jerry is “is aggressively friendly, attentive, and relentless.”| Photo by Sean Carter
As the “classic king,” Carlson is perfectly cast, nailing his portrayal of a stereotypical car salesman. His personality is aggressively friendly, attentive, and relentless, supported by a loud, blue-checkered blazer. He exhibits the most heart of the group, desperately trying to save his marriage and showing some concern for the best interests of his customers. While the other characters weren’t written with as much depth, their portrayals were less dynamic as well, and Wade and Smith might benefit from bringing more energy into their roles.
If plays were cars, The Classic King is not what I would be driving home from the lot. Those who enjoy cars and car culture, however, may feel differently, and it might be worth it for them to give it a test drive.