A Night Dedicated to Vagina’s

To celebrate and teach about something taboo is difficult, but the Women’s Commission at Millersville University rose to the challenge with their production of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues.” A look into the vagina from the perspective of those who know it best: Women. “The Vagina Monologues,” is just that, several monologues about a women’s take on her vagina, whether it be the sexually outrageous side, or the shy embarrassed one; these women were not afraid to bear it all.

The monologues had titles such as “My Angry Vagina,” about the feelings associated with the things that a woman’s vagina has to go through, and “Reclaiming C*nt,” which is a chance to take back the word, something beautiful instead of hurtful. These monologues may seem a little outrageous to the average listener, but they have some deep meanings behind them.

The Vagina Monologues is part of the V-Day movement. It is a global movement to end violence against women and raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of playwright and founder Eve Ensler’s award winning play and other artistic works. The “V” in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina.

Throughout the show, in between monologues, statistics about women were announced as chilling facts showed up on projection screens on either side of the stage. Sometimes they were just questions such as “What would your vagina wear?” Other facts were given about female genital mutilation in other countries. It was difficult to hear that each year 200,000 women in the U.S. are raped. This night was by far an eye-opening experience for many.

The show was not all facts and figures. In fact, I found myself being able to relate to some of the women up on stage. Their stories, whether comedic or dramatic, made me feel a part of the movement. I was captured by the acting of two ladies in particular, Chantel Jones and Melissa Huff. Jones dared to bare it all in her monologue simply titled “Moaner,” leaving the audience laughing after some serious facts had been thrown their way. Wearing a scantily clad outfit, Jones spoke of pleasing women, and how it was more satisfying than pleasing a man. She then went on to demonstrate multiple types of moans as she labeled each one by the type of women making the sounds.

Huff brought a different side of the vagina out. Her monologue was mockingly named “The Flood,” and spoke of a common unfortunate event among women, their period. Using a dialect, Huff portrayed a 72 year old women speaking of the moment that left her feeling a certain way about her vagina, describing the horror of her period happening in front of a boy she liked, which ended in her being ashamed to let any man get close to her again.

As a regular theatre attendee, it is, however, in my nature to find the mistakes in the show, in any show. This show had a great cast and a great theme, the area in which the show was lacking arrived on the technical side. Although the weather may have had an effect, it is evident that not enough time was spent putting certain aspects of the show together.

When arriving on Friday, I took my seat on the left side of the audience, in front of a projection screen. I heard music blasting from the speakers which distracted me as I tried to read the program. The music finally stopped and the audience waited several minutes before anyone began to speak. Finally someone in the audience, who was obviously part of the show, began the introduction, as four women walked onto the stage. At the end of the introduction and before each monologue there would be an explanation of what the audience was about to see, it seemed that the actresses were not ready to begin as soon as they were introduced, so the waiting ensued once more.

The show was not only an informational event, but it was enticing to both men and women. Millersville does a production of this show every spring in hopes of raising awareness for the cause, so if you missed the show, do not be alarmed, just make sure to catch next year’s production of “The Vagina Monologues.”