In writer-director Francesca Andre’s controversial off-Broadway play titled, So the Ghosts Can Speak, the themes of rape, lesbianism and sexual exploitation are examined through a very personal lens. In an exclusive interview with rolling out, Andre discussed what inspired her to write the play, how she hopes to impact the audience and her next project. -wesley brown
What compelled you to write So the Ghosts Can Speak?
… My own experiences and other people’s experiences had impacted my life in a very sad way. I started writing in my diary how I felt about my mother’s pain [and] my grandmother’s pain, as well some of the women that I encountered who have been sexually abused or [were] self-destructive. I needed to heal, and writing in my diary was like talking to a therapist. Once you speak, you are no longer invisible, you are no longer a ghost. That is how I came up with the title, So the Ghosts Can Speak.
What message do you want the audience to get from the play?
I want the audience to understand that these women are not victims … because they don’t perceive themselves as victims. Bad things happen [and] unfortunately we live in an imperfect world with imperfect people like ourselves, so bad things do happen. What matters is how you respond to these bad circumstances. These women are brave — they question their past, face the present and arm themselves for the future.
What projects are you working on now?
I am working on another short film and I would love to turn So the Ghosts Can Speak into a documentary.
