Shanthi Blanchard speaks about associations with the word “cunt” at The Vagina Monologues Saturday at McLeod Theater. The money from this year’s monologues benefitted the Women’s Center in Carbondale. - - Genna Ord | Daily Egyptian
“Cunt.”
Anyone who walked through the Communications Building Friday and Saturday may have been stunned to hear that word echoing through the hallways.
Not in a malicious manner, but as a declaration of womanhood.
McLeod Theater hosted two showings of the popular play “The Vagina Monologues” Friday and Saturday. Playwright Eve Ensler created the shows and the V-Day Movement in order to raise awareness about violence against women and raise money for the cause.
Most of the funds made from ticket sales will go toward the Women’s Center, while the rest will go to help women struggling with the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, said Jenn Freitag, coordinator of the event.
“The event is focused on raising awareness about violence against women and a woman’s sexuality,” she said.
The play, written by Ensler, is a series of monologues by women on rape, sexual violence, gender issues and other, sometimes comical, experiences.
The monologues at McLeod Theater involved 23 performers addressing subjects such as women shaving, embracing their vagina — regardless of age — and the fear of “losing their spot.”
Not everything was lighthearted, though, as several of the monologues covered the loss of innocence, cheating husbands and the abuse women face in parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mexico and different parts of Africa.
Stephenie DeArcangelis, a senior from Crete studying English, said although this was the fourth time she had seen the play, she gets something new out of it every time.
“It’s really interesting to me to see how much this show changes every time I see it,” she said. “The evolution from person to person, every performer does it different every time.”
DeArcangelis said among her favorite monologues was one titled “My Angry Vagina,” which she said “rocked my world.”
“(It) was all about the feeling and emotion about how real of a situation this was,” she said. “As women, this is the (stuff) we have to go through every day. We do have to deal with tampons and uncomfortable doctor appointments. It’s important for someone to come out and speak about that.”
Freitag said the play raised more than $3,000 last year and might have raised even more this year.
Megan Jones, coordinator for Sexual Assault Programs at the Women’s Center, said the center appreciates the aid it receives through the play.
DeArcangelis said she just had one comment she wanted to mention about the monologues.
“Go vaginas!”
Ryan Voyles can be reached at rvoyles@dailyegyptian.com or at 536-3311 ext. 259.
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