Vagina Monologues zeroes in on awareness of violence

May 4, 2010 - The Quill (Vol. 18, No. 6)
By Jenna Guyer

The Vagina Monologues, something audiences will long remember, was a moving, inspiring production that showed each night from April 14 through the 16th. The play was directed by Tanya Wheelock, a student here at Centenary College.

She decided on this particular play because of her love for theatre and her desire to help those in need. For V-Day, Centenary College joined in a global effort to end violence against both women and girls. This play was intended to raise funds and awareness.

Eve Ensler - playwright, performer and activist - is the author of The Vagina Monologues and has won awards for it.  The play has been translated into 45 languages and performed in more than 120 countries.  She is the originator of V-Day, which raised $60 million.  Ten percent of the net profits made from the Centenary College production went toward the V-Day 2010 Spotlight on Women of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Any additional money made went to the Jersey Battered Women's Service.

I attended opening night and thought that Wheelock did a great job in direction and the selection of which actors were going to perform which roles.  Each girl fit the part perfectly. The play was highly entertaining and informative. I enjoyed the variety offered by each scene, with portrayals of all types of emotions such as happiness, anger, tragedy, and pleasure.  It all would not have been possible without everyone onstage and behind the scenes working as well together as they did.