View source for How I Learned to Drive

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A woman, known to the audience only as L'il Bit, tells a story of her complicated relationship with her uncle. Uncle Peck taught Li'l Bit to drive, as well as a few other things. [[Word of God|According to the playwright]], Paula Vogel, ''How I Learned to Drive'' is "a play about the gifts we receive from the people who hurt us" -- and about control and manipulation. It is possibly the most heartbreaking play about pedophilia and incest you'll ever read or see.

It won the [[Pulitzer Prize]] in 1998 and was revived [[Off Broadway]] in 2012.
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This play provides examples of: 

* [[The Alcoholic]]
* [[Amazingly Embarrassing Parents]]: As well as grandparents. Li'l Bits' breasts are a regular dinner topic.
* [[Coming of Age Story]]
* [[Embarrassing Nickname]]: Li'l Bit, Uncle Peck, and many other members of the family are given nicknames that refer to their genitals.
* [[Fille Fatale]]: Averted, though Li'l Bit is accused of being one by her uncle's wife.
* [[Freudian Excuse]]: Hinted at.
* [[Growing Up Sucks]]: And how.
* [[Hey, It's That Guy!]]: The original production starred Mary-Louise Parker as Li'l Bit, David Morse (of St. Elsewhere) as Uncle Peck, and comedian Michael Showalter (of Stella and The State) as the Male Greek Chorus. 
** '''Michael Ian Black''': ...Michael [Showalter] was in How I Learned To Drive, which won a Pulitzer Prize. I was in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 
** '''David Wain''': Which won a Tony. [http://www.stellacomedy.com/website_press/onion.htm\]
* [[Hot for Student]], arguably, though Peck isn't an official (driving) teacher.
* [[Incest Is Relative]]
* [[Not Blood Siblings]]: Peck married into Li'l Bit's family. But still.
* [[Off the Wagon]] {{spoiler|After Li'l Bit rejects him, Uncle Peck eventually drinks himself to death.}}
* [[Only Known By Their Nickname]]
* [[Sympathy for The Devil]]: Though immoral behavior is not presented as being moral.
* [[Thanks for The Mammary]]: A middle school classmate fakes an allergic reaction, and when Li'l Bit asks what he's allergic to, he grabs a handful and yells, "foam rubber!"
* [[Umbrella Drink]]: Lampshaded, in a way: Li'l Bit is strenuously warned against ordering one of these.

{{reflist}}
[[Category:Theatrical Productions]]
[[Category:How I Learned To Drive]]
[[Category:Theatre]]