How I Learned To Drive
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Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Co-winner of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Co-winner of the Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding play.
A wildly funny, surprising and devastating tale of survival as seen through the lens of a troubling relationship between a young girl and an older man. HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE is the story of a woman who learns the rules of the road and life from behind the wheel.
"...Ms. Vogel has written a lovely, harrowing guide to the crippling persistence of one woman's memories." NY Times.
"…HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE is a tremendous achievement, genuine and genuinely disturbing…This is, quite simply, the sweetest and most forgiving play ever written about child abuse…Vogel's delicate tactic makes sense not only as a way to redouble the dramatic effect, but as a representation of reality, a perfect case of the form fitting the subject." Village Voice.
"...With subtle humor and teasing erotic encounters, Vogel addresses the dangerous intersections of teenage temptation. She also paints a richly poetic and picturesque landscape…The play is a potent and convincing comment on a taboo subject, and its impact sneaks up on its audience." Variety.
"…HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE turns out to be a most compelling ride." BackStage.
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How I Learned To Drive features the talents of Jason Cavanagh who is the owner/manager of the Owl And The Pussycat space in Richmond and co-founder and current co-artistic director of 5pound theatre - the resident theatre troupe of The Owl. Jason graduated from The National Theatre Drama School, has been nominated for various awards both as an actor and director and won critical acclaim for his recent production of The blue Room with 5pound theatre. He has been a working actor and director for many years.
Sebastian Bertoli joins our cast fresh from his work on the US TV show Fringe as Agent Reynolds. He also appeared in the HBO/Dream Works project The Pacific. He has been working as an actor in theatre, TV and film for many years. He has appeared in Bed of Roses as well as Untold stories of the ER. Some might remember Sebastian from a Beaurepaires ad. Sebastian has trained in the US, Canada as well as Australia.
Actor Sarah Rueben graduated from the School for Creative and Performing Arts, Cincinnati Ohio. Most recently Sarah co-devised and performed in Pollyanna, for Weeping Spoon Productions, Shakesprovisation for Cut Snake Theatre Company and Public Space for Little y and The Moxi Collective as part of the Perth Fringe Festival.
Andrea McCannon has trained with The Actor’s Company in London and The Rehearsal Room and 16th Street Actors Studio in Melbourne. On TV, Andrea has appeared in ‘City Homicide’, ‘Bed of Roses’ and ‘Rush’. Andrea is also a regular performer with Yut Art corporate theatre and film makers, and narrates educational videos for Video Education Australasia.
Juliet Hindmarsh's stage productions include the devised performance, Narcissus, performed at the 2012 Melbourne Fringe Festival; The Colony (2011), directed by Brienna Macnish at the 2011 St Martins Hatched Festival; The Story Project (2012), Bird on fence Productions; Prince Malcolm in Eagle’s Nest Theatre Company’s Macbeth (2011), Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (2010) with Eagle’s Nest Theatre Company; 1989 (2009) as a part of the St Martin’s Youth Arts Centre Performers Ensemble.
Feedback/Comments
A really strong production, the portrayal of such a difficult and taboo topic was thought provoking and moving.
A really thought provoking play.
Utterly brilliant.
Amazingly performed. Story had me thinking about some of the disturbing elements for days.
A disturbing play in many ways.
Outstanding - I was rivited.
A dramatic & compelling look at child abuse. Confronting & painful to watch. But ,unfortunately, all too prevalent to ignore, & very thought provoking.
A good example of american theatre, Mockingbird's third foray is driven by a firm director's hand and a sparse epic set. Worth seeing for some of Jason Cavanagh's best work.
Brilliant Production
A strong production, very moving and thought provoking. Highly recommended as a discussion starter.
Fabulous portrayal of a very disturbing story by some extremely talented actors!
Spellbinding. Amazing. Such a painful play to watch, but the darkness is worth it.
The actors were soulful and did a wonderful job with such a difficult story.
Bravo.
Very good. Get along and see it if you can.
Warning - read the blurb about the play before you attend as I only read the initial part which said it was funny. It is a serious piece about child abuse and some people would not choose to see it.
Continued high standard. Wonderful performances.