How I Learned to Drive opened Friday, Nov. 15. Sternberger was packed. The stage held car seats and a dinner table. Oldies played softly in the background as the audience settled into their seats. The cast of only five Guilford students portrayed a family living the suburban life in the 1960s and 70s as they dealt with incestuous abuse and a young girl’s journey through life. The play rewinds and fast-forwards through the memories of Li’l Bit, played by Samantha Kittle. She relives her experiences of molestation from her Uncle Peck, played by Bronson Stephens.

Paula Vogel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1998 for writing How I Learned to Drive. The play’s serious subject matter is frequently accompanied by dry humor that is unusual when dealing with sexual abuse.

“How I Learned to Drive is a play about healing and forgiveness,” said Vogel, “We sometimes receive gifts from people who have hurt us, and we should use those gifts, look at the pain as truthfully as we can, and move on.”

Samantha Kittle and Bronson Stephens starred in the play besides Vita Generalova, Trina Farmer, and Sasha Spoerri. The cast portrayed the important issues of molestation while still making the audience laugh. Director Lee Soroko said, “Not only is this an important work, the actors treat it with honesty and respect.”

“I enjoyed the complementary combination of wit and seriousness; it stimulated my senses like a play should do,” said Marisa DiSanto, a student from High Point University. “An exceptional performance from the cast, director(s), and technical staff ….Overall, the production was superb.”

During her writing process, Vogel invited women with pasts similar to Li’l Bits, to comment and watch the story develop. She wanted it to be an honest portrayal of the experiences that come with sexual abuse.

“The women embraced the story for its honesty and realistic portrayal of the cycle of abuse in all its many layers,” said Vogel.

According to Vogel, the play addresses forgiveness among the most important themes. She thought it was important to take what you can out of your experiences, whether they were positive or negative, and move on. One cannot let his or herself be a victim forever.

On opening night, the student actors used their knowledge of their respective characters and took the production in the direction that Vogel and Soroko wanted it to go. Although serious and disturbing, the play still filled the audience with laughter over the subject of sex.

One of the stars of the play, second-semester first-year Sasha Spoerri, said, “We’re all having a lot of fun, and each time we [act out the play], our performance gets even stronger.”

The play will run this weekend on Thurs., Fri., and Sat. night in Sternberger at 8 pm.