Exploring the misconceptions and formerly forbidden topics of womanhood, “The Vagina Monologues” delves into subjects many have determined taboo. In an agglomeration of monologues, 12 actors will perform separate pieces that cover sensitive subjects like cancer, violence, discrimination, sex, and more, imploring the audience to face truths about sexuality.
Directed by Heather Striebel, this production will be held for one weekend only: this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in New Mexico State University’s Corbett Center Auditorium.
Staff and students will be performing the 1996 play written by Eve Ensler. “The Vagina Monologues” is an episodic piece of compiled tales, examining various predicaments that people with a vagina may relate to.
Striebel directed this play three separate times when she was an undergrad at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. She felt that its elements related to modern issues and thought that it was essential for NMSU to view.
“I just felt like, especially now, with everything that’s going on and what’s happening in our country and internationally, that it still was very timely and really relevant,” Striebel added. “I just really felt that the story is, it’s been almost, you know, 30 years, but it’s still extremely relevant.”
This production began auditions in December, and in just a couple brief months, actors have poured their time and effort into embodying their monologues. They’ve examined the ways they can emphasize gender and sexuality through their roles to altogether celebrate and mourn them.
“Each and every one of these stories means something, and each and every one of these stories is something that so many different women can relate to,” cast member Angel Ennis said. “I want people to really think to themselves and imagine what it’s like to be a woman right now.”
“The Vagina Monologues” works through scenarios that further normalize phenomena that occur to people with vaginas. In this exploration, one may find themself struck with unease and grave understanding.
“I hope it makes them [the audience] more comfortable with all sorts of things,” a cast member, Rachel Maze, shared. “That’s what it’s really good for, is helping people feel more comfortable thinking about and knowing about taboo topics.”
The cast seeks for this production to reach the audience in unimaginable ways. The mission of evoking emotion and awareness is threaded within each monologue. Each of the play’s actors discussed how abnormal it felt at first to say the word ‘vagina’ perpetually, but as they approach their showing, the realization of the word has sunk in. Why does it feel so abhorrent to say vagina?
“I think that even having people hear it [vagina] so many times in the way that it’s been spoken about in such a positive way, I think will be really, really impactful,” cast member Emily Glover stated.
The show is anticipated to be full of shock and awe, intended to conjure dialogue and question why the vagina is treated as unmentionable. This empowering play by NMSU’s theatre department is sure to breakdown misconception, provide context, and transpire thrills.
Tickets for this production are $10 and can be purchased online or at the Corbett Center Auditorium doors. There will also be themed cookies for sale. The production welcomes mature audiences to take a seat and enjoy the show.
