“The Vagina Monologues” sparks dialog about violence against women
They talked about sex, childbirth and vaginas.
A group of talented female CU students stood in front of the sold out Old Main Chapel Theatre on Feb. 29 and spoke about very personal issues.
CU’s opening night production of “The Vagina Monologues” drew women and men alike to hear various monologues about the female anatomy and the panic, confusion and empowerment that surround it.
While the audience was at first a little taken aback by the language (the performance begins with a barrage of politically incorrect nicknames), their nervous laughter soon evolved into genuine hilarity. It wasn’t long before the crowd sat attentively hanging on every word the actresses delivered.
Robyn Marcotte, 31, a senior English major and the actress in charge of fundraising, said the humor of the monologues touch on serious topics about sex, experience and anatomy.
“It takes some of the taboo out of talking about this kind of stuff,” Marcotte said. “Humor helps people to hear the message.”
Haley Driscoll’s monologue in particular was astounding. With a stuffy English accent that sounded amazingly authentic, Driscoll confided that she always thought of the area between her legs as an “anatomical vacuum sucking up particles from the surrounding environment.”
Laughter was elicited from the crowd.
Matt Leeke, 19, sophomore sociology major, said the show was a must-see for everyone.
“I think you’re doing yourself a disservice by not seeing the show just because there is ‘vagina’ in the title,” Leeke said. “The show is fantastic and really funny, regardless of your gender.”
The monologues had a more serious side too. One actress took the stage to talk about female genital mutilation which she said is still practiced in 28 countries on 3 million women and girls a year. Another spoke of the 200,000 women who are raped each year in the U.S.
This serious subject speaks to the larger goal of V-Day, an organization that was spurred by “The Vagina Monologues” 10 years ago. V-Day’s mission is to end violence against women and girls and is funded by the benefit productions of the monologues.
Many college campuses participate in V-Day, holding performances and donating money to local organizations that help meet the national goal. All of the benefits from CU’s production and the accompanying silent auction will go towards a Boulder organization Moving to End Sexual Assault and the Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley in Longmont.
The monologues will also be performed on Mar. 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. at the Old Main Chapel Theatre on the CU Campus. Tickets can be bought at the door before the show or at the UMC Connection. Kelly Gibson, the director and a 20-year-old senior theatre and English major, suggests getting tickets early considering the opening night performance sold out at the Connection in the early afternoon of the show.
“We’re hoping to sell out all three nights,” Gibson said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Morgan Keys at morgan.keys@colorado.edu
