An Interview with Playwright Sarah Groustra, Author of Melody

1.       Please give me your name, what part of the world you’re in, and favorite author.

My name is Sarah and I live in Brooklyn, New York. It’s so hard to pick one favorite author, but I love Sylvia Plath, Shirley Jackson, and Haruki Murakami.

2.       Tell us a little about your play. 

“Melody” is a monologue play about a Gloria Steinem-esque figure recounting the night an unusual pregnant woman sought her help.

3.       What gave you the idea to write it?

This play was inspired by the 18th century case of Mary Toft, a woman who was famous for giving birth to live rabbits. Although she was later exposed as a fraud, I think Toft’s story exemplifies society’s fascination with the female body, as well as its detachment and dehumanization of the female body, particularly when it comes to reproduction.

4.       How does it fit in with your body of work?

My experience of the world is inevitably shaped by my experiences as a woman, and I have come of age during a time of both great progress and a huge reduction in women’s rights. Not every play I write addresses this directly, although “Melody” does. I think there is always a sensation of yearning and seeking in my plays, and I also always aim to provide fulfilling and dimensional roles for female actors.

5.       What should the audience take away from watching your piece?

That’s a great question, because as a playwright, the reaction and varied interpretations of a live audience is one of my favorite things about working in theater! I hope the play is thought-provoking in some way, and I’m excited to hear about what people take away from this piece.

6.       Why would audiences enjoy seeing a feminist festival of shorts?

The theater is a safe space for many of us, but also a place where art can ask difficult questions and bring us to a deeper understanding of the world around us. I’m so glad that B3 Theatre is taking this opportunity to bring women’s voices to the forefront as we continue to shape our worldview, and I’m honored to be a part of it!

Tickets to The First Festival of Feminist Shorts can be found at: https://our.show/1stfeminist .