Campus Celebs: The People Behind The Vagina Monologues
Hysterics, compassion, and sympathy flooded the theater as the actresses swept the audience under their spell. The red scarves wrapped around their necks resembled the compassion toward the performance celebrating the female body. Twenty-three women, each with one monologue, and plenty of emotion contributed to a beautiful rendition of the Broadway play “The Vagina Monologues.”
The series of intriguing stories of real women touched on inspiring events of sexual self discovery, intimacy, and vulnerability — each story tugging on an emotion deep inside of any women or man, and all for a good cause.
“Knowing what the production stands for is the most motivating part, its important to let people know that violence against women can be stopped.” said Rachael Carter, 4th year biology and English student.
Based on interviews with over 200 women, The Vagina Monologues is a nationally known book turned play by Eve Ensler. The performance can be seen in cities all across America in celebration of V-Day, the movement to stop violence against women. Rolling through Orono every year just in time for Feb. 14, the award-winning performance is captured by University of Maine students willing to get up onstage and say just about anything and everything women are anxious to admit.
Sally Brown put every ounce of vigor she had into the story of one ladies “Angry Vagina.” The fourth year veteran of the performance rocked the crowd with enthusiasm and with an extra emphasis on the word “pissed,” Brown ragged about the cold metal contraptions and dry cotton swabs that are unwillingly “shoved” up vaginas everyday — including her own. Preaching for fair treatment for her angry vagina, Brown’s monologue was not only hilarious but triggered a sense of realization for women, that maybe their vagina is angry too.
The fourth year journalism major has been a part of the production since she was a freshman. This year she had the honor of being a director.
“Over the years I have loved seeing the different cast members and what they have brought to the show,” Brown said. “Different people give their own interpretations and make it their own. We have seven returning cast members, each year we try out for a different monologue.”
Every year she has participated, Brown has designated many hours to the show, but she outdid herself this year.
“There were two whole days for auditions right after Christmas break, of which I still had to audition even though I am a director,” she said. “Then on top of that, the casting took about two hours to make decisions because it was so hard, all the girls were so great.”
As soon as second semester was underway, Brown and her classmates’ dove into a hour and half rehearsal scheduled once a week, as well as outside reading to perfect their monologues. Even though the monologues are short, a lot of effort is put into the emotional aspect of each line. Getting inside the character’s mind creates the experience for the audience, and without the commitment of the actresses, the show would not have had the great success it did.
After dedicating so much time, effort, and emotion into the production Brown found herself asking, “What am I going to do next week after this is all said and done?”
She described the feeling as being “bittersweet” and overall she was happy to work with a great group of talented girls. As in any production, the cast forms a strong bond after spending many hours together. The bond between the Vagina Monologue cast is a special one. These women come together to share an important message to the university community, while building friendship and hope for women around the world.
Carter, a new comer to the stage shared the same enthusiasm as her fellow actresses. However instead of capturing the audience with a comedic interpretation, she touched on the experience of a Somalia woman who had experienced detrimental abuse. Carter’s main motivation was to get the audience to “feel”, and that she did. Silence took over the audience like a black rain cloud, and you could feel the sympathy eluding from the listeners as she explained the cutting and torture endured by the foreigner.
“I have never seen the show before, so this is completely my first experience.” Carter explained.
As a virgin actress, she stumbled across the opportunity on first class announcements and decided to attend the audition with hopes of being a part of the educational program.
“The auditions were really low key and low stress. Everyone was very inviting. You could tell the women weren’t just there to entertain, it was more about sending a message.”
Personal fulfillment was her main goal, knowing she was doing something good for women around the world made the process worth it.
All women and no men was the cast criteria set by Eve Ensler. However about 1/3 of the audience were male, contributing the awkward chuckle and the awkward silence. For these men, the show provided a sort of reality. The realization that women in their life and all around the world may be experiencing the same feelings portrayed on stage. Whether it is an angry vagina, an unsatisfied vagina, an abused vagina, a neglected vagina, and even a loved vagina.
For women, the show provided a sort of relief, like letting out a big sigh after a long day. Relief that someone had the courage to stand tall on stage and belt out the words “vagina, pussy and cunt”, and every feeling or situation relatable. As the twenty-three women sat gathered on the small stage, smiles were exchanged, another year of the Vagina Monologues was marked a success.
photo credit: google images