‘Monologues’ aim to stop violence against women, one theatre at a time
For a long time, the very idea of discussing that forbidden part of the female body in public was taboo.
It simply wasn’t done.
With the publication of Eve Ensler’s Obie Award winning play, “The Vagina Monologues” in 1998, however, women and men began taking to task the serious issues centering on sexual violence to women.
Including adaptations of actual tales of mutilation, rape, battery and incest, Ensler’s play is designed as a forceful effort to end violence against women.
“Many of the monologues are actually composites from many women’s experiences,” Artemis Preeshl, co-director of the production, said “the nature of the work reveals many experiences rarely spoken aloud, which are unique to women.”
As part of the V-Day campaign, which is an international initiative that slackens royalty demands to allow communities to produce the play on and around Valentine’s Day, proceeds from the ticket sales will go to support local organizations working to end violence toward women.
In the last seven years, V-day has raised more than $25 million to help “guarantee,” as Ensler writes, “a world without violence.”
“We have an escort on this campus. Why is that?” Preeshl asked. “We wouldn’t have it if we didn’t need it. They say that only one in three rapes get reported, and the statistic may very well be higher, so it’s in many ways a silent crime that’s committed with an amazing frequency.”
“One thing I noticed is that it’s really hard for women to speak out sometimes about when they’ve had violence performed against them,” actress Brigitte Cramer said. “These monologues can show these women also in the community that it’s OK to speak out. These are women talking about things that they wouldn’t usually talk about.”
As part of the royalty agreements, the production utilizes an all-female cast with 13 performers, some of whom perform multiple monologues. Traditionally, the monologues are performed by three actors, but the play was adapted for this production after Preeshl received the suggestion from a professor at Colorado University.
“One of my monologues is very emotional and it has to do with a rape of the Bosnian women and for me, I had a very emotional experience with this monologue,” actress Lindsay Koeppen said, “it’s very heart wrenching.”
“I think a lot of the students aren’t really aware of these things,” stage manager Nancee Farrer said. “I was aware of it in the air, but it wasn’t put on paper or verbalized. I think just students coming to see that will, if not reaffirm what they know, teach them new stuff and get out there that some of these horrific things actually do happen.”
In the spirit of the play there will be a series of pre-performance talks immediately before the show, including, “The History of ‘The Vagina Monologues'” on Monday, “Looking in the Mirror (for my Clitoris)” on Tuesday and “Utah Newspapers’ Reporting of Domestic Violence: Does Coverage Matter?” on Wednesday. There will also be a free post-performance workshop on Thursday in the Ray B. West Building, Room 214.
Despite the well-meaning purpose of the play, many people have been turned off by the title of the production.
“My mom is totally supportive of me [being in the play],” Cramer said, “but the day I told my dad that I was in it, he completely turned off and sounded very disappointed in me, and it took me awhile to explain to my dad why I was doing this and I had to get through to my dad. To me this is really important.”
Though it may seem odd to be performing a play about sexual violence against women on Valentine’s Day, actor Barbara Esther believes that day is one of the most apt times to perform the play.
“It seems Valentine’s Day represents love,” Ester said. “The concept of love, in the majority of the country, is between a man and a women. To really look at this topic and to really be in the framework of love means no violence.”
“The Vagina Monologues” will be performed in the Taggart Student Center at 6:15 p.m. Feb 14-16. Tickets are $10 for students and $25 for general admission. All proceeds will go toward local programs helping to stop violence against women.
The production contains strong language including sexual and violent themes. Viewer discretion is advised.
-mattgo@cc.usu.edu