Performance displays controversial topics and delivers a story rich in morals

The Keene State College Theatre and Dance Department brought lessons, laughter and new viewpoints on sexual assault with their production of How I Learned to Drive. The play, written by Paula Vogel, focuses on protagonist Lil Bit and her relationship with her sexually abusive uncle, as well as her family’s history and their candid sexual activities. 

The story was told in non-chronological order and structured itself with flashbacks, narrations and voice- overs reflexive of driving lessons.

Directing the play was Peggy Rae Johnson, a theatre and dance lecturer at KSC. Johnson had first experienced the play’s material when acting in it herself in a previous production. “I’ve always loved the play and wanted to work on it from the director’s point of view,” Johnson said. “It’s beautifully written, meticulously well-structured and very creative and imaginative in its arrangement and metaphors and use of language. I hope the play  increases awareness and sensitivity towards a new perspective and gets people talking a little bit more about the subject,” Johnson said.

According to Johnson, the cast had a short run of 17 rehearsals before opening. “These students have papers, reports and lives, so to be in rehearsal six to seven days a week until midnight is a lot of work,” she said. “But it was a great cast. They worked so well together and never complained. They were very supportive of one another.”

Michael Portrie / Contributed Photo:
The cast of Keene State College’s production of How I Learned to Drive. Students tell a story of sexual abuse using the metaphor of learning to drive.

The play explored themes of child abuse, incest, sexuality and forgiveness. Meanwhile, the protagonist narrated, steered and shifted to reverse, delving deeper into her past, her family and her relationship with her uncle.

“The play is about forgiveness and I think that that’s a very generous perspective for this topic,” Johnson said. “The intention was not to encourage the concept of victim and predator, so that is what we had to consider when exploring that kind of relationship, because it ends with hope and joy for the main character, and that’s a pretty miraculous journey for a person to take.”

How I Learned to Drive premiered at the Wright Theatre at the Redfern Arts Center on Tuesday, February 25, to a full house, selling out each night of its five-day showing to the college’s campus and community.

“It was really well done,” Abby Darin, a senior sociology major who attended the play, said.

Darin had seen the play performed elsewhere and wanted to see how it would be retold. “The plot was very intense, but it was told at an interesting pace,” Rissa Grady, a recent KSC graduate who attended the play in support of a crew member, said. “The sets were also great,” she said. “The work that goes into a production is extremely arduous and to have people come and support your work is really a gift,” Johnson said. “We’ve all been really appreciative of the Keene State audience that sold us out.”

Anthony Munoz can be reached atamunoz@keene-equinox.com