Holy Cross’ Alternate College Theatre Performs “How I Learned to Drive”

The College of the Holy Cross’ Alternate College Theatre (ACT) will present “How I Learned to Drive,” written by Paula Vogel and directed by Elizabeth Mason ’14, in Fenwick Theatre, located on the second floor of O’Kane Hall. The performances will be held on Nov. 21– 22 at 8 p.m., Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 for members of the Holy Cross community and $10 for the general public and can be reserved by calling the box office at 508-793-3536.

“How I Learned to Drive” follows the strained, sexual relationship between Li'l Bit and her aunt's husband, Uncle Peck, through a series of flashbacks from the protagonist’s adolescence through her teenage years into college and beyond. While Uncle Peck teaches her how to drive, he also educates her a great deal about life, love, sex and control. The drama reveals Li’l Bit’s challenging journey to become a confident “driver” on the road and in life. Vogel won the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for this play.

“When driving, we have control not only of the vehicle but of our own lives; for a child, with no control of anything in his or her life, the attraction is apparent.  In his driving lessons Uncle Peck teaches Li’l Bit not only control, but [also] confidence behind the wheel,” said Mason.

ACT is a student-run organization at Holy Cross. For each show, students manage every aspect of directing, acting, lighting and design. Mason is an English and theatre double major and has previously directed an original five-minute piece titled “All Hail the Heartbreaker;” an adaptation of Euripides’ “Hecuba;” and two one act plays, “Love Loss and What I Wore” by Nora and Delia Ephron and “Old Saybrook” by Woody Allen.

The play’s cast features Emma Linsenmeyer ‘16, Julia McCarthy ‘15, Patrick O’Konis ‘16, Brian Ott ‘16, Maureen O’Meara ‘15, and Alexandra Skamangas '14.