"How I Learned to Drive," Paula Vogel's play about the seduction of a young girl by her uncle, was voted the best new play of the 1996-97 theater season Tuesday by the New York Drama Critics Circle.
The group, representing 26 theater critics from newspapers, magazines and wire services in the New York metropolitan area, also chose "Violet" as best musical and "Skylight" as best foreign play."Violet," with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, is based on a short story, "The Ugliest Pilgrim," by Doris Betts, about the journey of a young woman in search of a faith healer. "Skylight," by David Hare, tells the story of a reunion between a restaurateur and his former lover in the woman's London flat. The critics also voted a special award to the cast and creative team of "Chicago" for their "distinguished contribution" to the Broadway season.