Katarina Woloschuk
Staff Writer
Bleachers covered with colorful satin fabric rested on top of the dimly lit stage. Audience members filled in the seats and at exactly 7:42 p.m., the show began.
The second year of “The Vagina Monologues” took place Feb. 8-10 on the main stage of Dailey Theatre.
The play, a series of monologues, was filled with testimonies about such serious subjects as rape and abuse, to comedic entities such as a young girl’s struggle through her first period and the cast’s portrayal of about 20 different types of moans made during sex in one of their acts.
A play written by Eve Ensler, “The Vagina Monologues” brings awareness to audiences and the world about ongoing violence towards women.
In 1988, in response to the play, V-Day was created to be celebrated on the same day as Valentine’s Day to celebrate women and end violence against them.
V-Day impacted the campus of La Verne when President Stephen Morgan made it a “Rape Free Zone,” declaring it a safe place for men and women to work, live and learn.
Mayor Jon Blickenstaff is working on doing the same for the city of La Verne.
“Last year was my first time doing the show and it was really powerful and really moving,” said junior theater major and first-time director Ashley Miguel.
“It was such a huge success we decided to do it again,” Miguel added.
This year seems to have been a repeat success for Miguel with a full audience and of course talented actors.
A well-choreographed dance number was the opening scene for the show.
The music included powerful women singers such as Jewel, Christina Aguilera and “I’m Just A Girl” singer Gwen Stefani.
“The dancing was the most difficult part but I think we pulled it off,” said senior Spanish major Irene Beltran.
“Thoughts of a dance number played into my head,” said choreographer and MC Adrianna Castillo, a sophomore broadcast television major.
“I was talking to Ashley and asked her if we could do a dance number choreographed to songs about femininity and she said ‘Okay, you put it together,’” Castillo said.
There were mixed emotions spread throughout each piece.
Laughter seemed to be the main goal of the actors, especially during pieces read by the chorus composed of Rachel Ortiz, Adriana Serrano and Toya Johnson-Moore.
Ortiz’s comedic timing, Serrano’s delivery of sweetness and Moore’s confidence brought together a trio full of information.
One of the topics covered a six-year old girl’s response to questions about the vagina, bringing giggles and high-pitched laughs to an entertained audience.
The show ended with the entire audience on their feet after Debbie Roberts’ monologue of the abused in today’s society.
They stood for the sexually abused, the knowledge of anyone who has been sexually abused and the prevention of sexual abuse.
“I didn’t know what to expect but it was good,” said Sara Tozier, a liberal studies major at Azusa Pacific University.
“The Vagina Monologues” hit the right spot dramatically, comedically and emotionally speaking.
It is worth seeing no matter your gender.
Katarina Woloschuk can be reached at kwoloschuk@ulv.edu.
Katarina Woloschuk
