Test Drive

Drama-comedy
2m/1f – 2 acts

The life and times of a car man are chronicled in this new play, which premiered in 2004 at Ontario’s famous Blyth Festival.

Eric Coates and Jane Spidell in the Blyth Festival production of Test Drive. Photo by Terry Manzo.

Earl Hughes loves his wife, children and cars – and not always in that order. He also considers his life to be resoundingly ordinary, except that every ten years or so he sets out on a test drive that rocks his world. Earl’s trip begins in 1954 – a hurricane is brewing but he still thinks he can sell a Nash Metropolitan to a would-be starlet. From there he drives through the Cold War, detours around Woodstock and eventually comes to a screeching stop in 2004 – when he must really go to war to keep his driver’s licence.