PVCC Puma Press: October 2002 Contemporary Culture

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	AP Photo
	From left, co-stars Robin Givens, Donna Hanover, and Susie Essman pose outside New York's Westside Theatre on the first night of the play's three week run in New York City.
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"The Vagina Monologues" which originated as a theatrical production and later became a best seller is now available for viewing on HBO film or DVD. Playwright, author and actress Eve Enlser is the woman behind it all. With such a provocative title it seems that even the most conservative of Americans are lending an ear.

Although most of the audience is female, a few brave men dared (or were dragged), through the door as well. The overall reaction from both sexes was positive. Most found the play to be interesting and quite informative. And although the title may suggest some male-bashing, nothing could be farther from the truth. The monologues are intended to beautify women, but not degrade men.

The play, which Ensler wrote in 1998, is both hilarious and thought-provoking. Taken from interviews Ensler had with some 200 women, "The Vagina Monologues" tells the stories of these women through their vaginas. The women who ranged in age from 6-76 and varied a great deal in profession and race were all asked the same questions. Questions such as "If your vagina got dressed, what would it wear?" and "If your vagina could talk, what would it say?"

The sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes comical and always captivating tales of these women reveal the inner most secretive and hushed of topics ranging anywhere from homosexuality to abuse. Enlser has drawn such celebrities as Glenn Close, Whoopi Goldberg, Meryl Streep and Alanis Morissette to perform in the play, which has become a three person production. The book, which is almost verbatim of the play, opens with a brief introduction that serves as an ice breaker to what exactly it is, that the monologues encompass. Ensler says:

"I was worried about vaginas. I was worried about what we think about vaginas, and even more worried that we don't think about them...So I decided to talk to women about their vaginas, to do vagina interviews, which became vagina monologues. I talked with hundreds of women. I talked to old women, young women, married women, single women, lesbians, college professors, actors, corporate professionals, sex workers, African American women, Hispanic women, Asian American women, Native American women, Caucasian women, Jewish women. At first, women were reluctant to talk. They were a little shy. But once they got going, you couldn't stop them."

The book is full of a light-hearted parody of the world's perception of vaginas.

"It sounds like an infection at best," Ensler says, "maybe a medical instrument 'Hurry, Nurse, bring me the Vagina.' 'Vagina.' 'Vagina.' Doesn't matter how many times you say it, it never sounds like a word you want to say."

She preys on the insecurity that women have surrounding their bodies and takes an in-your-face approach to crushing that timidity. At one point, Ensler has the entire audience shouting about their vaginas.

But the mood changes quite quickly in the piece entitled "My Vagina Was My Village". In this piece one women's story of abuse is told through painful and gruesome details. Her vagina is referred to metaphorically as village.

"They invaded it. Butchered it. And burned it down." The performer says.

Designed originally, to make women more comfortable with the language and topics relating to their vaginas, the piece has become the basis for the creation of V-day. According to the official website for V-Day, www.vday.org the V stands for Victory over violence, Valentines Day and Vagina. Born on February 14, 1998, V-Day is a non-profit organization designed specifically to end violence against women all over the world, the website describes. Since it began over 4 years ago, the movement has grown tremendously. In fact, the website explains that this years V-Day was celebrated in 599 cities, 515 schools and 35 countries. The organization raises money from individual and corporate foundation donations, performances of The Vagina Monologues, and profit from product and book sales. Ensler, a survivor of parental abuse herself, is determined put an end to the closet-abuse of young girls and women.

The Vagina Monologues is much more than a humorous play turned book turned movie about vaginas. It is a voice for those who are too afraid to speak up. It is an outlet for the abused and a wake up call for the ignorant. It is liberation for women everywhere. So, as Ensler's slogan goes, "The Vagina Monologues-Spread the Word."

To find out more about "The Vagina Monologues" or V-Day visit the official website at www.vaginamonologues.com