Detour ahead

Capital Stage’s artistic director Stephanie Gularte is revisiting the role that helped put her on the Sacramento theater map a dozen years ago. A new face in town, Gularte took on the challenging task of portraying a young woman dealing with family secrets in River Stage’s production of How I Learned to Drive. She received much acclaim and went on to found Capital Stage, which presents bold, thought-provoking theater similar to the one that launched her local career.

Now Gularte is reviving that role in her own company’s production of Paula Vogel’s play; she once again plays Li’l Bit, a young woman trying to traverse the bumpy, scary road of adolescence and sexual (im)propriety. The play is framed around Li’l Bit’s driving lessons; her Uncle Peck is firmly in the driver’s seat, with wandering hands and dubious intensions, as he slowly detours from uncle to interloper.

The simple set—a bare stage except for a long, red-upholstered car seat, a throwback to older cars where a young girl could learn to drive by sitting on an uncle’s lap while steering and changing radio stations—provides a spare and flexible scene. Voiceovers give proper driving instructions as Li’l Bit slowly comprehends her uncle’s intentions, struggling both with her fondness for him and her disdain for the rest of her dysfunctional family.

Scenes ping-pong between the family car and the family dining-room table; Li’l Bit transforms from teen to adult and backward to child; and the tone ranges from chillingly creepy to absurdly funny.

Under Janis Stevens’ carefully balanced direction, Gularte captures the confusion of a young woman who is a victim, but who also understands her emerging sexuality is fraught with desire, danger, fragility and power. It’s a tricky balance, but Gularte gives one of her most powerful performances in recent memory.

Sacramento theater newcomer Jamer Hiser who has the more difficult job: portraying the complex character of Uncle Peck, and it is a memorable performance. His Peck is creepy yet sympathetic, perpetrator and ultimately a victim as well. This play is once again giving us another talented career to watch.