How I Learned to Drive

How I Learned to Drive on Broadway Background

How I Learned to Drive takes place in Pikesville, Maryland in the mid 1960’s. The play follows the retelling of the memories that the main character, Li’l Bit has, as she comes to terms with her family’s twisted past. Throughout the show, Bit recalls disturbing childhood incidents which she ultimately turns into her own life lessons and thus then teaches the audience. Written and portrayed in an out-of-order and non-linear storyline style, the show includes flashbacks, as well as quick change costumes and set transformations that are used to create the intended effects of the time shifts. Bit reenacts the stories of her emotionally complicated relationship with her sexually abusive Uncle Peck, while she narrates her own lament. The audience watch as Bit grows up, where she constantly struggles with her own identity and the gender inequality that was prevalent in the 60’s. She also struggles with the tortured memories of her Uncle that included his abuse mixed with his obsessive love for her. His excessive drinking, mental and physical abuse, his lewd jokes (often at her expense) and the non-stop groping and forced kissing, defines his underlying psychosis and her Stockholm Syndrome. By the end of the show, Bit comes to realize that though she did not ask for any of this, none of her vile memories were her own fault and that she should not blame herself for her traumatic childhood. The show ultimately becomes her own therapy session, with a live audience as a silent witness.

This show was impacted by the COVID-19 Broadway shutdown and was originally scheduled to open in previews on 4/14/2020, with a red carpet opening on 4/30/2020 and was set to close on 6/7/2020.

What’s How I Learned to Drive Like?

How I Learned to Drive takes place in Pikesville, Maryland in the mid 1960’s. The play follows the retelling of the many memories that the main character, Li’l Bit has, as she comes to terms with her family’s twisted past. Throughout the show, Bit recalls disturbing memories which she turns into life lessons and teaches to the audience. Written in an out-of-order and non-linear storyline style, flashbacks, as well as quick change costumes and set transformations are used to create the intended effects. Bit reenacts the stories of her emotionally complicated relationship with her sexually abusive Uncle, while she narrates. The audience watch as Bit grows up, she constantly struggles with her identity and the gender inequality that was prevalent in the 60’s. She also struggles with the many memories of her Uncles excessive drinking, mental and physical abuse, the lewd jokes at her expense and the non-stop groping and kissing that he always seems to want. By the end of the show Bit comes to realize that though she did not ask for any of this, none of her incidents were her fault and she should not blame herself for her traumatic childhood memories.

Is How I Learned to Drive Good for Kids?

Due to the sexual and abusive content in the show, kids under the age of 17 should not see this play.