ROYAL OAK – "The purpose of drama is to project ourselves into everything we fear and everything we resist and everything we are revolted by," says "How I Learned to Drive" author Paula Vogel. Her Pulitzer-winning drama not only makes the audience feel slightly uncomfortable but allows them to question familial impact, and reflect on the process of healing and survival. The play is presented in Stagecrafters' black-box studio theatre, 2nd Stage, through Feb. 21 at the Baldwin Theatre in downtown Royal Oak.
Told in a mixture of flashbacks, monologues and narration, "How I Learned to Drive" chronicles the inappropriate seven-year relationship between an uncle and his teenage niece. Set in 1960s rural Maryland, Li'l Bit (Rachel Keown of St. Clair Shores) recounts driving lessons and her relationship with Uncle Peck (Josh Allor of Mount Clemens), her family's dysfunction and the emotional impact on her life thereafter. The story's non-chronological order reinforces the metaphorical twists and turns of driving through life. Because of the subject matter, this play is rated M for mature content.
Director Jerry Haines of Berkley was drawn to direct the play because of the questions it evoked. "There is never a time we should fault the victim in cases of molestation, but we mustn't overlook the circumstances or history surrounding some cases. We hear about the cycle of abuse, is that a contributing factor in this situation? Why does the victim not tell, but pursue and continue the relationship? How much does family dynamics and dysfunction affect the abuse with both the abuser and the victim? I want audiences to enjoy the drama and the performances, but I want them to think about and question the circumstances," says Haines.
"How I Learned to Drive" opened in New York in February 1997 and ran off-Broadway for 14 months. The play won several awards including the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, an Obie, a Drama Desk Award and a New York Drama Critics' Award.
Show tickets are $18 for all performances. Students may purchase half-price tickets for the Thursday, Feb. 18 performance. Tickets may be purchased online at stagecrafters.org (online handling fees apply) or by phone at 248-541-6430 using Visa or MasterCard. All seats are reserved and there are no refunds or exchanges on individual tickets. If shows have not sold out, tickets can be purchased at the box office one hour prior to the performance. The Baldwin Theatre is located at 415 S. Lafayette in downtown Royal Oak. The show runs approximately two hours including one intermission.
Show dates and times are as follows:
Thursday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. (Half-price student night)
Friday, Feb. 19 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m.
Stagecrafters, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit community theatre, is in its 60th year of providing opportunities for members of the community to develop their talents and to volunteer their time to create an enriching, quality theatrical experience through its Main Stage, 2nd Stage and Youth Theatre productions. At the Baldwin Theatre since 1985, Stagecrafters has been named Best Community Theatre by Hour Detroit, Real Detroit Weekly and Daily Tribune. Stagecrafters offers shows that appeal to a wide variety of ages and interests and prides itself on providing professional quality shows at affordable prices, making the performing arts accessible to individuals in our "regional" community.