Patrick Kenney
Editor-In-Chief
@PRyKenney
In 1996 Eve Ensler took the stage of the HERE Arts Center, in New York City, and brought the Vagina Monologues to life.
Touching on matters of sex, love, rape, menstruation, birth and more, the Vagina Monologues seek to display the female experience from every light.
Interviewing over 100 different women, Ensler was able to find her purpose: to tell the stories of women, in a positive light, in order to create a movement centered on justice for everyone.
On stage, the Vagina Monologues are broken up into separate performances (monologues) which shed light on separate topics.
“Each of the monologues are a story by individual women and they all share a really important and powerful message,” said senior Paige Moran. “There are a few monologues made up of several stories which [Ensler] thought would work well together and portray a similar message.”
This weekend the women of Springfield College, led by Moran and others, will look to continue what Ensler started all those years ago by presenting their interpretation of the Vagina Monologues.
“This show allows people to see different topics about women in a different light,” said senior Avery May. “Some people may perceive the topics as controversial but we present them in a way to show that different aspects of women’s lives do not have to be seen that way.”
Opening Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in Fuller Arts, the cast of 65 female students will put on display their own turmoil, life lessons and stories for the members of the College and surrounding community to watch, listen and understand how important equality for all is.
“I got involved in the Vagina Monologues mostly to have a voice for those who feel as if they don’t have [one],” said Taylor Lockrow. “I want people to be able to spread their own message and their own journey.”
“For me it’s about owning the strong emotions of women. Women are such emotional creatures and it’s a beautiful thing. It’s not something that should be looked down upon, it’s a power.”
The Vagina Monologues are meant to be a representation of life. Stories that give insight to a woman’s world. But that is exactly what they are, stories about real women, real problems and real emotions.
Equal representation has no gender boundaries however. More than 30 other students were selected by each performer to represent them as their ‘Bob’, a person they trust and rely on for anything. A person they believe stands for what the Monologues represent.
“[This show] means standing up for others; other women and other people that can’t stand up for themselves. Just promoting equality for everyone,” said May.
“We go out their every day and we spread [Ensler’s] message and we start her movement repeatedly every single year, “ continued Moran. “We are the living breathing movement right here at Springfield College and I think that is an incredible thing.”