Molly Griggs Is Loving Being Back In The Classroom In JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN

Molly Griggs just happens to be starring in one of the most buzzed about plays of the season right now. As Bailey Gallagher in Kimberly Belflower’s John Proctor Is The Villain, she heads back to high school as a guidance counselor eight times a week, in this funny and deeply moving new play. 

So first off, did you read The Crucible in high school? Were you a fan back then?

I did! I think I read it in my 9th or 10th grade English class. I loved it. It’s a play that totally jumps off the page, and you can see it so clearly as you read it. It’s such a visceral story— you can feel how everything could change at any moment depending on what someone says or does next. I remember loving the character Abigail, and how dangerous and free she was despite her oppressive environment.

How did John Proctor come into your life?

I was asked to audition for Miss Gallagher in early November last year. My call back was on Election Day, actually. It was so healing (and intense) to say Kimberly’s words in that context— when the whole country was holding its breath. I got the call saying I got the job the next day. It was a totally surreal, complex soup of emotions.

What was your first reaction when you read the play?

My first thought was “these characters are so smart and so funny.” I grew up in North Carolina, and the rhythm of the text felt so cozy and familiar. The characters reminded me of me and my best friend in high school. Our emotions ran high and the conversations we had about art, and books, and the people we had crushes on were deep, nuanced, and hilarious— just like the girls in the play.

Kimberly writes in a way that is so approachable for audiences, what was the collaboration like with her and finding your Bailey?

In the character description for Bailey she writes, “she’s trying her best.” I think about that before I go on for every scene. She loves her job, she’s trying the best she can, and she’s really hard on herself when she fails. That’s what made me fall in love with Bailey, because I identify with that mentality so much. Kimberly and I also talked a lot about how there’s a lot of similarities between Bailey and Beth. So when my character tells Beth “You don’t have to apologize for existing” she’s also, in a way, saying this to herself.

The character of Bailey is in such an interesting spot in the play stuck between the world of the students and the teachers, how did you explore these themes with director Dayna Taymor?

Danya and I talked a lot about the difficulty of Bailey’s position. She’s 24 and trying so hard to be a “real adult,” but her youth and inexperience come through despite her best efforts. When working on the last scene, Danya said to me, “she grows a spine right here in real time.” We get to watch Bailey grow up along side the teenagers in this play, and witness her really come into her strength.

I think perhaps one of the most exciting parts about this Broadway run is how many young folks are coming to the theatre, what does that mean to you as an actor with this show?

This has been one of the most rewarding parts of this experience. It’s meaningful that young people are showing up for this really intelligent, language driven play. It’s so cool to see that, and it proves that young folks have an appetite for challenging, complex, and original stories. The energy at the theater every night is truly amazing.

When you reflect back on John Proctor over the next twenty years or so after the run, what do you want to remember most?

I want to remember the people. I want to remember quietly cracking up backstage with my dresser, Sami. I want to remember the look of bewildered joy on Fina’s face the day of her Tony nomination. I want to remember the long car rides back to Brooklyn with Hagan. I want to remember that one time in tech when Kimberly literally couldn’t stop herself from laughing. I want to remember the sounds of our audiences, crying and laughing and gasping in recognition.

Lastly I gotta ask, favorite Lorde song

It’s honestly Green Light, but that’s everyone’s favorite (for good reason)! So my other favorite is Liability. It’s a beautiful, spooky little lullaby she sings to herself. I love it so much.