Maria J. Velasco
Staff Writer
“A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer,” a play composed of several short monologues, marked the celebration of V-Day at the University of La Verne on March 6.
V-Day is an event that is meant to increase awareness about violence against women.
“The meaning of this show is very powerful,” director Jordan Wycoff said. “Violence against women needs to be stopped.”
The stage in Founders Auditorium had large red letters hanging from the ceiling reading “V-Day” and a large map of the world in black and white spread out in three large pieces that were made of wood.
The performers sat in a café themed set. The play was composed of short pieces that ranged in topics regarding the abuse of women.
“The show was brilliant and eye opening,” freshman Giuliana Zago said. “Those who saw the show had the pleasure of being educated about the violence against women by a spectacular cast.”
Each piece explored a different aspect of violence against women.
“Groceries,” performed by Shannon Matlock and Adri Serrano, was about a woman who underestimates the amount and weight of her groceries, and how the man that helped carry the groceries to her apartment raped her.
One of the strongest emotional pieces of the night was “True,” which was a collection of stories of women about to get abused but the men who were about to harm them stopped because they saw their victims for what they truly were.
At the end of the collection of stories however, the performers revealed that all the stories except for one were lies.
The women were abused and not seen for who they were; rather, they were seen as sexual objects.
“The Next Fantastic Leap” dealt with domestic violence through the metaphor of a tango performed by the two leads.
But the whole night was not a tragedy.
During one of the first pieces, “Maurice,” performed by Lynee Sanute, the narrator of the story managed to save herself from a rape attempt.
Without a doubt the piece that got the loudest applause was “Respect,” performed by Sami Cacchione and Tiona Hobson. “Respect” was about the lack of concern for black women now and since the time of slavery.
Among the facts presented in “Respect” was that men who rape black women are more likely to get a lower jail sentence than men who rape white women.
“There was a lot of attitude,” Donnell Williams, senior business major, said. “Made me think of the situation that black women in America and other women face.”
Wycoff, a sophomore theater arts major, got asked to do the show last November.
“I didn’t know the show, but once I read the script I fell in love with it,” Wycoff said.
Wycoff said she was captivated by the message of the show.
“Theater is about doing powerful things, sending powerful messages,” Wycoff said.
One of the elements that helped make “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer” a success was the passion that the performers had for the subject.
“I think the whole concept is an amazing idea,” Cacchione, sophomore performer and political science major, said. “It brings awareness to something that is overlooked a lot.”
The more than 60 people that attended the performance were genuinely appreciative of the show.
“It was extremely entertaining and informative,” junior Ishmael Price said. “It surpassed all expectations and increased my appreciation for vaginas.”
“I learned new perspectives on things,” Williams said.
“A lot of sweat, hard work and tears went into this, but in the end it was completely worth it,” Wycoff said.
Maria J. Velasco can be reached at mvelasco@ulv.edu.
Maria J. Velasco
