“How I Learned To Drive” Opens Trinity Theatre Spring Season

Actors Sarah Tipton and Alaynna Marttala 

sit on stage waiting for the show to start

Photo by Katie Groke

By Katie Groke

Seats were filled up Friday night as Trinity Theatre Department opened its spring season with “How I Learned to Drive.”

More than 70 people came to the show, which was performed in the small black box theater on the second floor of the Ruth Taylor Fine Arts Center.

The space was transformed with two seating areas facing each other. A painted road ran in between the seating areas and a swing hung from the ceiling, indicating the play’s themes of driving and loss of youth.

“We put it in the smaller theater for a more intimate setting,” said Rachel Joseph, a Trinity professor and director of the show.

The cast started working on the show as soon as the spring semester started in January. “It is a beautiful memory play and the cast did a wonderful job with the piece,” said Joseph.

“How I learned to Drive” is a Pulitzer Prize winning play by Paula Vogel. The piece touches upon incest, child molestation, and the impacts of an unhealthy home environment.

Li’l Bit, the protagonist and narrator of the show, tells the story of her complicated relationship with her Uncle Peck, who sexually assaulted her when she was 11 years old.

The show stars seniors Sarah Tipton, as Li’l Bit, and Dallas Akins, as Uncle Peck. “I was lucky to have great co-stars,” said Tipton, “especially Dallas.”

The two worked hard to develop trust with each other, especially because of the difficult scenes they have together. “It is exhilarating getting to perform in front of an audience; to get to interact with the audience,” said Tipton.

Senior Natalie Seitzman was among the audience and impressed with how the “Attic Theatre” was used in creating an intimate setting. “They did a good job transforming the space,” she said.

At the post-performance reception, an enchanted audience clapped for the actors as they walked into the reception.

The production also had more than just the play in mind as it included in the program information about organizations that assist sexual abuse victims, such as Trinity University Counseling Service and RAINN.

The play will continue to run on February 24-27. Event and ticket information can be found on the Trinity University Theatre Webpage or on their Facebook page.