2008 Woodie Awards
"How I learned to drive"
Kate Brindisi
Issue date: 3/2/06 Section: A & E
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Directed by E. Kyle Minor, the 70-minute play concerns a young woman's affair with her uncle. Narrated by the woman as an adult, she revisits her youth, from age 11 to 18, when she was secretly having an affair with her uncle. She ultimately learns to forgive her uncle and herself as she takes control of her life.
The SHU production features Monica Veale, Matt Libassi, Dan Marra, Tara Maroney, Amy LaVorgna, Justin Schiavone and Caroline Saxe. Christine Fahey served as production stage manager, and Sam Bolles as stage manager. Only days before the production's opening night Amy LaVorgna was replaced by Jessica Ciemniecki.
"The show seemed to have a rough start. We started rehearsing two weeks after we returned from winter break. Then an unexpected mishap with a cast member, really brought the morale of the cast down," said Matt Libassi, junior, Shoreham, N.Y.
After having to recast a role in the chorus, chaos was called after Professor Minor's email explaining the nature of the play was sent out. It was responded to quickly, by professors with demeaning responses, which lead to the beginning of many disputes.
"The controversy, as I understand it, isn't over the play, but rather over my synopsis of it in the global promo I initially sent out. After one colleague questioned its word choice, I sent out a revised promo the following morning," said Professor E. Kyle Minor, director.
"The play definitely stirred up some unneeded controversy, and I believe that it put added pressure on the actors. However, I was blown away by the actor's performances, especially Libassi's, having to play such a difficult role," said Jen Murphy, junior, Milford.
There was some argument to the use of the global e-mails. Many students were getting agitated from reading the ongoing e-mail battles between the professors.
"I was annoyed with the emails that the professors were sending. It got to a point where I felt like they were beating a dead horse. We're all old enough to discern things on our own, and I felt like they were just attacking the play in its entirety, and some didn't even know what they were talking about," said Murphy.
Despite the controversial topic of pedophilia that the play covers, it was presented appropriately. The play truly conveyed that although it also included two other very important themes, love and forgiveness.
Although there were many discrepancies, and e-mails sent about the production, it did not prove to be a deterrent. Many students said that they were planning on seeing it because of all the controversy that was stirred up by the continuous e-mail arguments.
"I got so many e-mails from the professors arguing about how the theme of the play was explained I wanted to see what all the hype was about, and I'm glad I did, the topic the show covered was really well presented" said Christine Palumbo, freshman, Cedar Grove, NJ.
They worked through a rocky start, mishaps with the cast, and controversy stirred up interest about the production. The old saying goes 'there's no such thing as bad publicity.' And that it definitely applied to this situation.