Kendall Aronson, Campus Carrier Asst. Arts & Living Editor
“The Vagina Monologues”: It’s not a traditional play by any means. It includes many individual monologues, each read out by a different person. They range in topic from rape to love to birth. Some are quirky, some more heart wrenching. The subject is meant to be raw and emotional. The production is being directed by Hannah Hammond and AnnaBeth Crittenden, and is being co-sponsored by EMPOWER and BCTC.
“We want it to be the raw emotions rather than a polished piece,” senior AnnaBeth Crittenden said.
For this reason, there are fewer rehearsals than a normal production would have, with an emphasis on emotional freshness. It is a lot less like sitting down and becoming immersed in a different world, like you would expect in a production such as “Wicked” or “The Tempest.” It makes the audience think, and the narratives are right in your face.
Don’t let the word vagina stop you from attending. The show is meant to be about empowerment, while shaking some of those taboos surrounding the topic. The title and show itself bluntly ask to be paid attention to, and that’s by design.
“Behind even just the word vagina there are so many stories in that and finding strength in yourself and in your own beauty,” Crittenden said. “And I’m hoping the word vagina doesn’t scare them off because the people who it might scare off are the people who need to see this show.”
It can also be a very relatable production as a female, as well as enlightening you to the plights of your fellow women. If you’re not a woman, it can be very educational.
“Everyone knows a woman,” senior Heather Pharis said. She has done the production before and will be doing the “Moaner Monologue” this year. “I love this show because I look around at women and I’m like yes you are powerful, you are important, and you are incredible, and you are probably going through so much and you still are a warrior,” Pharis said.
The monologues combat doubt and self consciousness among women about their vaginas and about other aspects of their lives.
“‘The Vagina Monologues’ is like a battle cry for all women,” Pharis said. “Kind of like a realization moment for all the men in the room too.”
Another thing which makes “The Vagina Monologues” different from other plays is that the playwright, Eve Ensler, went out and interviewed different women for these stories. Each of the monologues is a true story, told from their own point of view, and in hearing those stories the audience can learn more about females everywhere.
“At one point in my life, I genuinely thought my vagina was only meant to birth babies,” Pharis said. “And it does have that purpose, but there are so many other purposes now too. There’s a sense of empowerment with it.”
Especially in the social climate of today, “The Vagina Monologues” makes a very important statement. It is being performed at Berry College on Feb. 24, 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. in Krannert Underground.