Despite the fact that Americans today are extremely vocal about nearly every topic under the sun, at least one remains discussed in hushed tones and rarely among mixed company: the female genitalia. In recent years, however, Eve Ensler has allowed vaginas everywhere to demand that the world listen to what they have to say.
The Center for the Arts is hosting the second annual production of Ensler's play, "The Vagina Monologues," directed by Lecturer Susan Anner and starring 12 UB students. The play is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Theatre and Dance, and the CFA. The final showing is 8 p.m. tonight in the CFA Drama Theatre.
At the dress rehearsal prior to their first performance, cast member Annelise Abrams, a senior musical theater major said, "(The play) really helps put men and women's issues on similar planes."
This is one way to sum up the Broadway hit inspired by testimonies Ensler took from over 200 women of various races, ages and backgrounds. The playwright managed to turn the rather taboo subject of the vagina into a series of extremely informative and comedic monologues. Not only has the play made women feel more comfortable about their bodies and themselves, it has broken new ground by benefiting those in need.
Namely, the success of "The Vagina Monologues" inspired Ensler to organize V-Day (celebrated on or around Valentine's Day) in 1998, an annual global movement aimed at increasing awareness about violence directed at females. To date, proceeds from the professional performances of the show have donated over $10 million to anti-violence organizations.
According to Jessica Brand, a senior theater major, the monologues are "female empowering; (they're) giving women the freedom to talk about the problems they face and be heard."
At the dress rehearsal, the enthusiastic cast was dancing to their opening number, No Doubt's "Just a Girl." But the cast jumped directly into the deep waters of their uncharted topic with an introduction of how the monologues came to be. The opening scene ends with the following concern: "We're worried about vaginas."
The play then highlights the monologues themselves. The first features a woman speaking about her failed marriage in a monologue entitled, "You Cannot Love a Vagina Unless You Love Hair." Using dramatic imagery and comedy to make light of her husband's infidelity and her unwillingness to shave her vagina, the story becomes liberating and upbeat.
Several additional monologues cover a variety of vaginally related topics such as rape, the plight of homeless women, child abuse, childbirth, tampons, thongs and the dreaded visit from the woman doctor. Interspersed between the monologues are "happy facts" and answers to questions including what vaginas would say if they could talk, what they smell like and what they would wear.
A particularly entertaining monologue addresses moaning and includes a detailed list of the many types of moans women make. Joanie Alberti, a musical theater major, steals the show, holding nothing back in her role as a former lawyer obsessed with making women happy. Alberti demonstrates a variety of moans, including the "diva," "twisted-toe," "super-duper," "operatic" and "semi-automatic" moans, just to name a few.
Thus, the show appeals to women who are reluctant to talk about their vaginas. As a result of her involvement in the play, senior theater major Shanna Sykes said "you can still be a lady and talk about this stuff," and said participating in the play gave her "a voice and reason to talk."
While the subject matter pertains solely to women's issues, men could also benefit from attending. Although men may not willingly subject themselves to all this talk about vaginas, they will certainly walk away from the show with a new understanding of how to please and identify with women more thoroughly.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
