More about the play...
How I Learned to Drive explores the complex emotional
and sexual relationship between a girl and her
uncle-by-marriage, beginning when she is eleven and continuing
until she is eighteen. Vogel approaches the subject of child
molestation from the girl's point of view, portraying her not
as a helpless victim, but as a young person looking for love
and affection whose family situation sends her in the wrong
direction.
According to Vogel, How I Learned to Drive is about
the good that can come from the bad things in life. The story
is recalled in flashbacks by the now-grown woman, Li'l Bit, who
comes of age in rural Maryland in the 1960s and 70s. Li'l Bit's
family is ill-prepared to nurture the bright, sensitive girl,
either intellectually or emotionally. The only person she feels
close to is her Uncle Peck, who listens to her, teaches her to
drive a car and also molests her.
As she reflects on their seven-year involvement, Li'l Bit
must reconcile conflicting emotions of hurt, confusion and fear
with the understanding that this weak man was the only one who
sincerely loved her. She also comes to appreciate that his
greatest gift was teaching her how to leave him. Paula Vogel
has crafted a tale of resolve and forgiveness that is
remarkable for its sensitivity, surprising humor and empathy
for both characters. The play encourages the audience to
re-examine their assumptions of good and evil.
Opening Off-Broadway in 1997, Paula Vogel's How I Learned
to Drive won the Obie Award, the Drama Desk Award, the New
York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Outer Critics Circle
Award, the Lucille Lortel Award and the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for
Drama.
In conjunction with How I Learned to Drive, Madison
Rep is collaborating with the Rape Crisis Center to prepare
nearly 950 high school students to see the play at three
Student Series performances. Representatives of the two
organizations will make more than 28 classroom visits to
introduce the issues raised in the play. The Rep provides each
student with an audience guide and teachers receive
supplemental materials with suggestions for discussion and
writing assignments.
The co-production is directed by C.
Michael Wright, Associate Artistic Director of Next Act Theatre
in Milwaukee. Wright, who has acted in a number of Rep
productions over the past ten years, including the title role
in Hauptmann, will make his Madison directing debut with
How I Learned to Drive. A professional actor for 21
years, Wright has directed more than 30 productions since
moving to Wisconsin in 1988.
The cast for How I Learned to Drive includes Mary
MacDonald Kerr as Li'l Bit and John Kishline as Uncle Peck.
Three actors portray roles ranging from family members to high
school students. These Chorus members will be played by Michael
Callahan, Amy Geyser and Celia Klehr.
Madison Rep's dynamic design team of Frank Schneeberger and
Mary Waldhart have created the sets and costumes for the
co-production. Lighting design is by Andrew Meyers and sound
design by Doug Hillard. The production stage manager is Meghan
Gauger.
How I Learned to Drive is funded in part by grants
from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of
Wisconsin, the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission with
additional support from the Madison Community Foundation and
the Shubert Foundation.
