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Saturday, July 5, 2025

Johnson, Ellis ‘Drive’ Audiences Home in a Difficult Production

Driving takes on a new meaning in Longwood Theatre Department’s new production, “How I Learned to Drive.” The play opened on Thursday, April 11 and ran through Sunday with one show a day. It will continue on the stage for a second weekend from April 19-21. Bruce Speas, director of the play, did a great job in the end though attracting audiences on a big weekend such as Spring Weekend.

The production itself stars Adrienne Johnson, senior; Daniel Ellis, senior; Jimmy Mello, sophomore; Sarah Breitenberg, senior; Jillian Thompson, sophomore; and Stephanie Trippeer, senior. With such a small cast, it was interesting to see how the production of the show would go.

The beginning set included two chairs beside each other, facing the audience, and a kitchen table with several chairs around it and plates and utensils. Several times during the play, extra chairs, a bed and a second table brought out to accompany the act.

The floor was decorated with marks like the ones seen along a highway or road with yellow lines, both solid and broken, for intersections and roads. A gray tarp was also tightly spread across the backdrop during the play scenes, and slides were shown on the tarp in regards to the scene. In correlation with the scene, there was a slide depicting a rule of the road or a video or song playing.

It is rare that a play is run without intermission, but this one went for the entire hour and 30 minutes it allotted for the show.

The story follows a young woman, Li’l Bit (Johnson), and her unconventional relationship with her Uncle Peck (Ellis). While the play begins in Li’l Bit’s senior year of high school, the audience watches her in other years of her life, even as young as 11-years-old.

Shown through different years of her life but narrating as an adult, Li’l Bit reveals that she has been molested by her older uncle since she was 11 and all the way up until her college days when she ends the relationship.

First in 1969, Li’l Bit sits in the car with her uncle, and he touches her, a recurring event on their weekly rides 

apparently. She reveals then, in a flashback, that he would take her on dates to a restaurant or on trips or anything she wanted. Timewas determined in several ways during the play; while Johnson as Li’l Bit did narrate a time change or a year difference, her hair also changed from no accessories to childish clips or a headband. Her outfits also reflected her age, sometimes changing from a skirt to shorts or a bright kid- style.

In her early teens, he would take 

apparently. She reveals then, in a flashback, that he would take her on dates to a restaurant or on trips or anything she wanted. Timewas determined in several ways during the play; while Johnson as Li’l Bit did narrate a time change or a year difference, her hair also changed from no accessories to childish clips or a headband. Her outfits also reflected her age, sometimes changing from a skirt to shorts or a bright kid- style.

Johnson explained her preparation for the play, and she felt about the sensitivity of the role of Lil'l Bit. "It was difficult. I personally have never experienced a lot of the more sensitive subjects in the play, so I wanted to make sure I was accurate in my portrayal of the piece," she said.

"I did not want to be false or offend anyone with my performance. Prior to opening night, we rehearse every day for four or five hours. Personally, I tried to relate the heart-ache that Li'l Bit experiences to events that happened in my own life."

THe maturity of production did not go unnoticed or unadvertised as it is shown at very early stages 

of womanhood that Li’l Bit is mistreated by her uncle. Even though her mother and his wife, her aunt, notice the behavior, they do not speak up. The story is heartbreaking yet empowering as Li’l Bit slowly overcomes the control of her uncle.

Mello, Breitenberg and Thompson all took on several roles throughout the production, including a young boy at a school dance, Li’l Bit’s mother, her grandmother and grandfather, girls at her school, a younger version of Li’l Bit, and her aunt. Trippeer did the voiceover who read off the slides that were shown on the tarp.

It was remarkable to watch the only two constant actors on stage, Johnson and Ellis. Their professionalism in acting out many of the scenes did not go unseen by audiences. The story was a difficult one to watch for audiences, but the actors made it that much easier for them with their skills.

“Daniel has been my best friend for four years. It was incredibly comfortable and welcoming to work with him on a subject that is so sensitive,” said Johnson. “We trust each other and played off of each other’s' chemistry. I could not have asked for a better co-star.”

"How I Learned to Drive" is a play written originally by Paula Vogell and is set in years spreading from the late 1960's to the early 1970's. In March 1997, the production was released on stage, and it would later go on to receive a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

"Despite the raw content material, everyone seems to love the production. I believe that everyone seems to love the production. I believe that the acting level of my co-actors is impeccable  and I am very proud to be part of such an amazing performance. Our director, Bruce Speas, really is what brought us all to this level," said Johnson, "He drew things out of me that I never would have believed I could do onstage. I think we have a great show, and I wouldn't change a thing."

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