Throughout Paula Vogel's play How I Learned to Drive, the one main theme that emerges
             is that of pedophilia. Reading through this play, while thinking as the director, was to say the
             least difficult. Also while reading the play, it was disturbing personally to think about, because
             the issue of pedophilia has affected a close friend. As a director there are many aspects to
             consider before performing and casting this play. How I Learned to Drive is a powerful and
             thought provoking play that takes an incredible director and a talented cast to make this
             While considering this play through a directors eyes, and also thinking through personal
             experience, makes this play discomforting and emotional to direct. For myself, growing up in a
             small town, pedophilia and child molestation were rarely heard of. Every person in the town
             knew every other person by name. We all learned about pedophiles, child molestation and rape in
             school early on in life. However, no one every thinks that they would ever have to deal with it.
             In grade seven, while sitting in math class, the principal of our Junior High School called my best
             friend down to the office for a meeting. That was a meeting which she never returned from.
             Later on, I found out that she was taken away from her home, and out of our town to live with a
             foster family. Her father had been abusing her physically, mentally and sexually for three years. It
             was unbelievable that I did not know something was wrong. Although her father was not overly
             nice to her friends, I never would have imagined he could be capable of these unforgivable acts.
             Her family appeared very religious and in a sense "normal." It was not until this year that I finally
             saw my friend again. I have not seen her family in seven years. Being the director of this play I
             feel I understand the severity of the issue of pedophilia and also incest....