how i learned to drive by paula vogel winner of the putlizer prize for drama, 1999
TRANSCRIPT
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
Winner of the Putlizer Prize for Drama, 1999
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
Talking PointsThe structure of the play: unstuck in time, flashbacksThe Greek Chorus—see p. 2264: Vogel on plays as democracyThe plot--reconstructedThe characters:
Li’l BitPeckGrandmotherMotherBig Papa
AllusionsMusicCars: Buick Riviera, Cadillac Eldorado, Chevy Bel Air, Cars and Sex: e. e. cummings, “she being brand”Literature and Film: Alice Liddell, Lolita, Emma/Clueless, Dangerous LiaisonsPeople: Hugh Hefner and Playboy, George Wallace, Gregory Peck, Kate Smith,
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
The OriginalLi’l Bit
Mary-Louise Parker
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
The OriginalUncle Peck
David Morse
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
Music ReferencesRoy Orbison, “Sweet Dreams”Beach Boys, “Little Surfer”Shirelles, “Dedicated to the One I Love”Sam Cooke, “You Send Me”Five Satins, “In the Still of the Night”Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, “This Girl is a Woman Now”; “Come Back When You Grow Up”Herb Alpert and the Tijuana BrassCarl Orff, Carmina Burana
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
Buick Riviera
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
Cadillac Eldorado
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
1956 Chevy Bel Air
cummings, “she being Brand”cummings, “she being Brand”
she being Brand-new;and youknow consequently alittle stiff i wascareful of her and(havingthoroughly oiled the universaljoint tested my gas felt ofher radiator made sure her springs were O.K.)i went right to it flooded-the-carburetor cranked herup,slipped theclutch(and then somehow got into reverse shekicked whatthe hell)nextminute i was back in neutral tried andagain slo-wly;bare,ly nudg. ing (mylev-er Right-oh and her gears being inA 1 shape passedfrom low throughsecond-in-to-high likegrasedlightning How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
cummings, “she being Brand”cummings, “she being Brand”
just as we turned the corner of Divinityavenue i touched the accelerator and giveher the juice,good(itwas the first ride and believe i we washappy to see how nice she acted right up tothe last minute coming back down by the PublicGardens i slammed ontheinternalexpanding&externalcontractingbrakes Bothatonce andbrought allofher tremB-lingto a:dead.stand-;Still)
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
Poussion, Rape of the Sabine Women (1634)
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
Hugh Hefner in London, 1969
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
How I Learned to Drive by Paula VogelHow I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel