The Atlantic: Roe, which opened at Washington, D.C.’s Arena Stage just days before the inauguration of President Donald Trump, is a modern kind of history play, a production that considers a crucial issue in American politics. But its playwright, Lisa Loomer, didn’t expect the timing of Roe to be quite so pointed, coinciding with the arrival of a new president opposed to abortion rights and a vacancy on the Supreme Court. “It’s daunting,” Loomer says. “I feel like the play has become accidentally urgent.”
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After reading this article, I can only hope that this play gains a wide audience of influence. I enjoy the fact that Roe is about giving knowledge rather than fighting for a certain side in the abortion debate. Additionally, the fact that abortion rates are going down but the abortion debate has become more polarized because of it (due to each side believing they are the reason why the rates are going down) is an incredibly thought-provoking and terrifying concept – how can we as a nation begin to converge on one side of the debate if the two sides are becoming more and more confident in their stances? I appreciate that the article brought this fact up and is generally very objective in its writing.
The goal of the play is also very praiseworthy. The fact that Loomer wanted to start a human discussion, one that doesn’t include yelling and slogan-slinging, is one that is very often attempted but hard to achieve. Due to the sensitive nature of the subject of abortion, it is hard to say if Loomer will accomplish her goal or make it worse. Either way, I will be rooting for the former.
This show sounds amazing, and I really hope it goes far, because it is the type of theatre we need in this day and age. However, I really do wonder about how it will actually effect politics. Like the article said, it is in the heart of politics in America, but I'm mostly a pessimist about its lasting effects on American politics and the abortion debate. Although art and theatre has the ability to inspire and affect the viewpoints of its viewers, I think the polarization of this country is so strong that a show like this, despite its prominence, could have any effect on the political workings of either side. From what I've seen over the past 2 years during this campaign, little will change the views of both Americans and political leaders, be it a history of racism or sexism, or a march of millions of Americans protesting the policies of a particular political party. While it is very optimistic that a show could have that much effect, I have to be a pessimist and think that it will have little to no effect. But I'll have the attitude of "expect the worst, hope for the best" and regardless of politics, I hope the show is successful.
Reading the title of this article grabbed my attention immediately as I'm sure it will for many others. The Supreme Court decision of Roe V Wade is one that did not come lightly in US History (and it is one that is continuously contested by republicans and pro life advocates). In an open letter to The POTUS I wrote,
"You were quotes two days ago stating that “[The Marriage Equality Act] is irrelevant and settled by the court.” While I congratulate you for respecting its position in the law, I don’t think my basic human rights are irrelevant. Furthermore, if you are going to honor this court decision under the rhetoric that it is “settled” I expect you to uphold all decisions including Roe V. Wade. Because it is not your decision, Mr Trump, to chose reproductive health care for anyone. Not men. Not women. "
this best exemplifies my opinions on the issue. It is no one decision what protocol women take for reproductive health care. I hope this show draws national media attention and that enough people support it that it almost seems unstoppable (we've seen this with political shows before.... think the $10 bill).
I think this play is a fantastic idea and will definitively have an influence on individuals' political opinions regarding abortion. The only way, in my opinion, to become a better person is to observe and listen to the narratives of people who have lived lives different from your own. There is a great deal of diversity in this country and so many people to talk to and listen to who were born into circumstances that have led to lives with experiences and emotions that I will never experience. Understanding these narratives is what allows us to think about the effects our every choice has upon others. I will probably never have an abortion but I have heard too many stories from women who have been in that circumstance in a variety of scenarios that I cannot imagine myself every willingly making that choice or event harder for anyone. In my opinion, this is what theater is for. It allows us to communicate the stories of others different from ourselves to a multitude of people so that they can empathize and understand others and use that to inform their decisions and how they interact. Even if all this play does is change the opinions of a few people or allow them to empathize and see why someone would make a decision to have an abortion, then the goal has been met. I hope that similar productions and narratives continue to be told for the next several years.
I have always been a firm believer that plays and musicals should be performed to have an effect on people and the world around them, whether that is negative or positive. So reading the statement, “As Roe opens, abortion rates in the U.S. have fallen to their lowest levels since Roe v. Wade was decided”, I was over thrilled at the fact that this is continuing to be proven in numbers. While I would like to see the numbers to back up the data that is presented, I still appreciate that it is being written and brought to attention. I do think that plays are a medium that should be used when trying to inform people of a social issue, and that by seeing other people deal with what we are dealt on a daily basis it can open eyes. I also enjoy historically based plays the most out of any show, because they typically do hold meaning to what is still true today and can make us look back on our past.
As an optimist, I want to believe that theater can influence history, but I don’t know if I agree with theat. I know I agree with the statement that theater can reflect history and make people think about it, but influence implies a power over the outcome and I’m not sure if that is there yet. If any show is going to influence history I think Roe has fighting chance. Its use of dramatic elements like breaking the 4th wall and the living document of the script that always reflects the present time allows people to connect with the content more and consider it as a person living in the here and now. Another thing that this article brought up is the location of Arena stage and its significance to the content of the show and its impact. The audience of a show is something that a company keeps in mind when producing its season. Therefor Arena Stage made a great call on producing such a politically relevant show where the people with the most political influence (it should be the people, but we know that’s not true) are going to see it because we all know that art is a token of economic status.
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