Johanna Day Embraces Discomfort in ‘How I Learned to Drive’

Performers

The two-time Tony nominee on returning to Paula Vogel’s landmark play after 25 years

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“The play is much richer and deeper and darker and funnier than I remembered,” says Day, a prolific character actor whose theatre credits include Tony-nominated performances in Sweat and Proof, and her Obie-winning turn in Appropriate. “It was all those things before, but I think living 25 years in this world has given us lots of ammunition to understand it even better. Every single night I say thank you before going on because there’s never been a play written this way about this subject matter. I have friends who went through similar situations who’ve come back two or three times, bringing parents and family members. It’s a way to start a conversation. I think that says a lot. It’s just so beautifully told.”

Initially, aligning the actors’ busy schedules was the biggest hurdle. Finally, in spring 2020 they were in rehearsals and two weeks away from their first preview when the pandemic shut down the entire theatre industry for 18 months.

Despite the heavy themes explored in the play, there are funny parts. Day has a hilarious “mother’s guide to social drinking” monologue about how to imbibe like a “lady,” which an underage L’il Bit recalls as Uncle Peck plies her publicly with alcohol at a restaurant. It’s one of many scenes that make you laugh and wince simultaneously.

But Day’s most compelling moment is a disturbing monologue delivered directly to the audience by Aunt Mary, who essentially defends her husband Uncle Peck and blames L’il Bit for everything that’s happening. “It’s really hard for me to say that every night,” Day admits. “I get chills down my back. I can always feel that there are people in the audience who want to run up and just stop me from talking. I’m blinded by the spotlight so I can’t see, I can only hear. It’s never not going to be uncomfortable, but I relish it. I’ll hear somebody scoff and I’ll aim the words in their direction and shut them up.”

As hard as How I Learned to Drive is for the audience, it’s even more challenging for the actors. “Jill Biden came to the play last Sunday and the first thing she said was, ‘I think this is going to take me a while to process. How do you guys come down from doing this?’ And we were all like, ‘Booze!'” says Day with a laugh. “Seriously though, to survive this we have to be irreverent.”

Yet Day doesn’t want it to end. She talks hopefully about an extension (which came through! It’s now running through Sunday, June 12 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre) and says the cast has mused about a future reunion production. “Twenty-five years might be a little overambitious,” she says. “I know I’d be on a gurney if I’m even still alive!” But it speaks to the piece’s timeless power that both actors and audiences keep returning to it. “I’m just so honored to be a part of this play,” she says. “I know how life-changing it can be for some people.”

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TDF MEMBERS: At press time, discount tickets were available for How I Learned to Drive . Go here to browse our current offers.

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