Alfred Uhry’s Driving Miss Daisy is now onstage at the Walnut Street Theatre until February 2.

Alfred Uhry, born December 3, 1936, is said in the program notes to be the only playwright to have won the Triple Crown, which is The Tony, Oscar, and Pulitzer Prize. He co-wrote the film Mystic Pizza, and wrote the play Last Night of Ballyhoo. He wrote Driving Miss Daisy at age 40, drawing from people he knew. 

Speaking of honors and awards, our outstanding cast has literally been fermented with accolades over their long careers. Scott Greer as Boolie Werthan, has won six Barrymore awards over his decades on the stage. Wendy Scharfman, as Daisy Werthan, lists dozens of theatrical accomplishments in her bio, while Johnnie Hobbs, Jr., as Hoke Colburn, was awarded a Barrymore Lifetime Achievement Award. 

A few highpoints in this story of a stubborn retired schoolteacher who refuses to accept a chauffeur,  and the son who hires one include Miss Daisy teaching Hoke to read, explorations of race, class, religion, gender, and politics, and 

Boolie telling his mother that it wouldn’t be politically expedient for the town to know that he will attend a UJA meeting honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. We learn that the author’s intent was to show us that every day of our lives is precious. The story begins in 1948, when Boolie is age 40, and Daisy is 72. By the end, Daisy is in a nursing home at age 97, and Hoke is elderly as well. Hoke helps to feed Daisy during a visit. She tells him that “You’re my best friend.”

See this magnificent, efficient three-character play. It is a gem.

Driving Miss Daisy is a short 70 minutes here. It will be followed by Hay Fever, and Dream Girls to complete the 2025-2026 Season.

For information on this and next season, visit www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org .