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- January 15, 2006
Pulitzer Prize-winning play opens ISU Theatre's spring season
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Patrick Gouran isn't shy about his views on child molestation.
"My own personal view is that this is a very heinous crime,"
said Gouran, professor emeritus of music and ISU Theatre.
Which makes it all the more surprising that Gouran wanted to tackle "How
I Learned to Drive," the first ISU Theatre production of the spring semester
which he directs. Paula Vogel's 1998 Pulitzer Prize-winning play recalls
the story of a young woman growing up in Maryland during the 1960s and
'70s and her relationship with her uncle.
"There are some that say that the play ‘humanizes child molesters,'"
Gouran said. "I don't want Uncle Peck to come off as heroic or sympathetic
in any way.
"But what I like about the script is that we can see the character
as something other than a monster. He's the guy next door, someone people
would say ‘would be very pleasant to get along with - a caring individual'
- not unlike what people say about individuals they find out are child
molesters."
"How I Learned to Drive" is a tale of survival seen through
the eyes of Li'l Bit (portrayed by Laura Williams). The play looks at
Li'l Bit's life from an 11-year-old to a woman in her 40's. Much of the
play takes place in a car as Uncle Peck (Marty Ellenberger) gives her
driving lessons.
Gouran says the play's title also reflects how Li'l Bit learns to face
and deal with the troubles life throws at her.
"Uncle Peck is one of the few individuals who gives Li'l Bit any
attention at all," Gouran says. "And although she realizes pretty
fast that this is not a normal or appropriate relationship, she thinks
the attention Uncle Peck gives her is better than none at all."
Vogel is careful in the script not to make the play physical in any way.
"The value of the script is the insight into the nature of the individuals
who do this sort of thing to individuals that trust them," Gouran
said.
"How I Learned to Drive" will be presented in the Maintenance
Shop of the Memorial Union Feb. 2-4 at 7:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. Sunday
matinee on Feb. 5.
The play's venue is also important to the presentation of the story Gouran
says.
"This is what I call an ‘actor's show,'" he said. "There's
no need for fancy sets. We use lighting and music to indicate location
rather than an actual set."
Three actors (Kim Chelf, Matt Bridges and Amanda Mullen) portray a modern
Greek Chorus and frame the play's narrative. The play a variety of characters
including Peck's wife who has a substantial monologue detailing her knowledge
of her husband's obsession with her niece.
Tickets for "How I Learned to Drive" are $13 for adults, $12
for seniors and $7 for students and children. All ISU Theatre tickets
are available at the Iowa State Center Ticket office at 515-294-3347.
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