Theatre--Review

I am featuring a guest reviewer today, since the two (hopefully) regular reviewers are both unavailable (Duncan because he is still appearing in Driving Miss Daisy and Walter because he is on the faculty of the theatre department at UL-Lafayette). This review was written by a veteran of the Acadiana stage, Dr. Robert Sidman.

This afternoon and evening (March 15), in Fletcher Auditorium on the UL Lafayette campus, there will be the final performances of Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, How I Learned To Drive. The play traces the life of Li’l Bit (Sarah Gauthier) from age eleven, when her Uncle Peck ( Blaine Peltier) molests her during her first driving lesson, to age eighteen, when she firmly and finally rejects seven years of his (unconsummated?) sexual advances. … Just letting you know this is not a dinner theatre outing with the family.

Sarah, a Performing Arts major, is perfectly cast as Li’l Bit. Her character emerges convincingly as an independent young woman, not just a victim. In fact, she could have belted Uncle Peck into the next parish if the script had called for that.

Blaine, a Performing Arts graduate, has the right balance of sleeze and smarminess as Uncle Peck. I wouldn’t have left his character with a child for one minute. My only advice to Blaine- don’t get type-cast. There were elements of your Uncle Peck character in Hound and Plaza Suite.

Greta Trosclair (Teenage Greek Chorus), a Performing Arts major, is extraordinary as Li’l Bit at eleven and Li’l Bit’s grandmother!

You can visualize the role of Brian Egland ( Male Greek Chorus), a Performing Arts major, by thinking, “Alan Arkin” in Little Miss Sunshine.

Samantha Riley (Female Greek Chorus), a nursing student, played multiple characters, including Li’l Bit’s mother and aunt. All I can say about Samantha is, when she had the stage I collapsed in spasms of laughter. The patients on her ward will have a treat.

Of course, a real hero in this production is Assistant Professor Justin Bates (Production Director). Scene changes and timing are seamless and flawless. As good as the cast is, he chose it and orchestrated the ensemble.

--Robert D. Sidman, Ph.D.