Roe by Lisa Loomer

Vision Statement

At the heart of Roe, is the contorted, manipulated, and restrained Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe, a surrogate, an everywoman whose surrogation the play attempts to make visible through an examination of the past, present, and future of our nation’s societal structure, expectations, and even laws around the purpose of a woman’s very being. 

There are two interconnected ways in which Roe is interested in past, present, and future. First of course, is an attempt to present a critical perspective on the history of Roe v Wade. This history is contested and the play leans into some of what Thomas Postlewait might call a historiographical crux, or rather a concern with the interpretation of history from varied perspectives. For Lisa Loomer, following both Norma and Sarah’s story allows for a kind of Rorschach test, in which “an audience member should be able to feel that ‘their side’ is right” (6). Second, this history is presented in the context of fake news, alternative facts, and the nature of truth. In this play the contestation of truth paired with the surrogation of Norma McCorvey allows the audience to witness the continued dismantling and construction of social and cultural tools to constrain and hold women. The play is not quite a docudrama as it relies on a constructed version of truth while eschewing its own construction (or version of that truth). Rather the play highlights the complexity of Norma’s journey as a surrogate for all women and the pressures, laws, religions that impinge on a woman’s right to control her destiny. 

The shattering of norms, communication, and facts is paramount to understanding the play. The play’s world is thus one of a collapse and construction, a world that constrains these women (especially Norma) even while they try to break down patriarchal demands. For example, Sarah uses Norma’s pregnancy, her body, her life, her selfhood in an effort to expand the rights of women.  There is a strong theme of manipulation and truthiness represented in the play’s call for both authentic characters as well as surreal elements of environment and experience. Thus we are presenting reality through the perspective of those whose stories we are telling (i.e. it is not necessarily “real”). There are moments of theatrical expressionism, surrealism, and symbolism. Sometimes Norma sees things others don’t see (mostly people). Music sets the emotional tone of each moment (and should also reflect a particular time period). The historical sound of the supreme court’s original decision on Roe v. Wade intrudes upon the world and reflects the power and control this body has over the citizenry, specifically women.  Lights should help us read a scene like a book in some moments, while appearing natural and non-intrusive in others. Projections should provoke audiences while occasionally helping to establish location (we likely need at least two projection surfaces, as multiple images are called for in different locations). Costumes must indicate, (again through expressionist, surrealistic, and symbolic techniques), both the historical period as well as the overall themes of the play. The set should communicate the collapse and construction of Jane Roe’s world and thus the hope and despair of women looking to the future. It should constrain and impose itself upon women while also supplying a stage that is multi-use, flexible, and allows for staging that can demonstrate clear power dynamics and manipulation.