Eve Ensler could not have realized the effect of her work when she debuted the "Vagina Monologues" in New York in the mid-90s. Not only does this controversial yet popular play persistent in its message, but it has spawned a worldwide movement known as V-Day, which raises awareness about violence against women and girls. The success of the "Vagina Monologues" has brought it to televisions and stages worldwide. And for the sixth consecutive year, AU students staged their own production of the "Vagina Monologues" on campus, in the McDowell Formal Lounge this past Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Ensler's play is based on interviews she conducted with women young and old about their experiences as women, possessors of the almighty vagina. The stories are hilarious at some moments, unbelievably sad at others and emotionally exhausting by their end. Stories range from issues of love and sex, menstruation, genital mutilation, rape, birth and, of course, seeking (and finding) orgasm.
AU's production was directed by V-Day veteran Marissa Labate, a senior, and newcomer Nicky Smoller, a grad student, both in the School of Public Affairs. This year proved as successful as years past, with the McDowell Formal Lounge filled, as usual, to complete capacity.
The monologues begin with a group of five women known as the V-Squad. "It sounds like an infection at best, maybe a medical instrument: 'Hurry nurse, bring me the vagina!'" says one V-Squad member. But while the V-squad makes it their job to incite playfulness and laughter in the audience, not all stories are like this.
One monologue tells of the abuse many Native American women undergo living in the secluded reservation of the vast American heartland. In "Crooked Braid," Sara Farizan, a junior in the School of Communication, makes a powerful statement about abuse in seemingly normal homes.
Perhaps what is most unexpected about the play is that it carries such important messages about the world of women today. This year, two million women and girls will be genitally mutilated, millions of women will remain repressed around the world and 700,000 women will be raped in the United States alone.
Of course, the humor is the most engaging, in part because many women can understand and relate to the issues of hair "down there" and finding sexual satisfaction. While it was clear that many women in the audience were enjoying the antics of the performers, some men were visibly confused by the ordeal.
One particularly great moment in the play was the performance of a monologue called "The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy." In this particular sequence, Amy Teachout, a sophomore in SPA and the College of Arts and Sciences, glories the audience with the various moans a woman may emit, including the climactic "surprise, triple orgasm moan." Her performance is the clincher, pulling the audience together to remind them of the greatness of the "Vagina Monologues."
In the end, the play as a whole is a tremendous feat for nearly 30 amateur performers to have accomplished. It has its faults in some places, however, particularly in the inconsistency of the performances. Some feel more contrived than others, in part related to each actor's different level of familiarity with the material.
As a whole, AU's production of the "Vagina Monologues" stands as a great testament to the strength of such a great original play.
"Perhaps the spread of the "Vagina Monologues' throughout the world will continue to raise awareness about V-Day and women's rights," said Brittany Grow, a junior in SPA and CAS.
"It continues to make a powerful statement"
