Vagina. About half of the world’s population has a vagina. All nine performers in the Virginia Player’s Reading Series’s presentation of “The Vagina Monologues” have vaginas.
In a provocative and genuine depiction of women’s struggles and triumphs, “The Vagina Monologues” highlights stories from females that Eve Ensler interviewed in 1994. Ensler wrote the play as an impetus for dialogue and open conversation on controversial, taboo topics. Before the act began, director Arrietta van der Voort, a second-year College student, warned the audience much of what they saw could make them uncomfortable, but it was also highly likely to make people think differently.
Humor, abuse, pride, anger and frustration all found a place in this dynamic performance. It shoved harsh topics unapologetically into audience members’ faces, sometimes literally, as actors jumped down from the stage and addressed their lines to individuals. Topics ranged from prostitution and pubic hair to sexual abuse and transgender experiences. One actor lectured people for blaming assault on short skirts.
The performers took on new perspectives during the quick two-week rehearsal process, and the work showed. Each actor embodied a specific character and owned what they were saying. Viewers could feel the tension, joy and pride emanating from each woman on stage. The dedication was obvious.
“The greatest advice Arrietta gave us was don’t get so caught up in the lines, but get caught up more in the feelings the lines bring you, so you’re not so much acting, but you’re getting lost in the moment,” fourth-year College student Maha Ahmed said.
Much of the rehearsal process involved conversing and gauging how each person was doing. During her initial interviews, Ensler asked every woman a few questions, like what their vaginas would wear, taste like and say, and each cast member answered these same questions during rehearsal.
Annalise Gill, a second-year in the College, said her vagina would wear “a really fuzzy, cozy blanket… [and] it would taste like wine.”
Ahmed replied, “Mine would say, ‘Yes means yes,’ because if I want to do it, I want to do it. I’m not ashamed of it,” garnering an especially positive response from the rest of the interviewees.
Van der Voort finished, “Mine would wear body glitter, and taste like coffee, and it says, ‘Be careful.’”
Ultimately, “The Vagina Monologues” celebrated women and femininity. It refused to apologize or shy away from topics people strive to avoid, validated the universal challenges of females and emphasized the pride, power and independence that accompany womanhood.
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