Did you see what I saw?

Did you see an amazing production of Paula Vogel's "How I Learned To Drive" by the SET Group theatre? I did. Three times. And yes, I was charmed and won over. I went into this production with trepidation over what was in the script. I admit I thought I couldn't watch it, or wouldn't want to watch it. Abuse is never pretty. But what happened was that these actors, under Rod Oden's direction, took this story and brought out the little bright spots that are often stuck in the mire of an ugly situation. The flinty shards of good that Paula Vogel herself found in the awfulness of her life. The bits that are wedged into all life's situations we encounter. I was amazed, it was good, I could gladly sit through it, and I hope I will now rethink my initial reaction to what is put before me. I don't ever want to miss out on something good again. Did you see it? Make sure next time you do.

I'm Sitting Next To You

How I Learned To Drive by Paula Vogel is not a walk in the park. No, it is a full on DRIVE through the mirky twists and turns that traumatic events in life can bring us. Ergo, both my daughter and my sister said to me separately when i told them that they gotta see this show, "I'm sitting next to you."

And that is okay. Because theatre, really good theatre is the experience of all the individual audience members as one. You laugh, it makes me laugh. You cry, I am pulled into that emotional realm likewise, and we both experience something deeper from the production. So, go ahead, sit next to me.