Vday 2012 - How to Rock The Vagina Monologues
by MabDarling
If you get a chance to celebrate Vday 2012 with a performance of the Vagina Monologues then TAKE IT. Here's how to really get into the spirit of the thing as a performer. Expect to say our favourite v-word a lot. Not, in this case, vole.
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Let me start out by saying: I am not an actor. I've never really been an actor. Hell, if there was an opposite of an actor, I'd be it. I've spent my last five years at University (yes, I'm one of those seniors) battling a crippling social anxiety disorder, a child-like lisp, and an embarrassing stutter. I've gotten loads better, it's true, but these things are still and will probably always be part of who I am.
Still, when I say the open audition fliers for Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues on my campus, I jumped right in. Controversial feminism with all proceeds going towards local charities in hopes to raising awareness about violence against women? There's just too much Mooky in that sentence to back down.
About The Vagina Monologues and V-Day
The Vagina Monologues are a series of feminist monologues written by Eve Ensler in 1996, and it's still relevant today. Two hundred women were interviewed about sex, relationship, and violence, and their words inspired these monologues, and a global movement known as V-Day. In their own words, V-day is "a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money, and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM), and sex slavery." (From www.v-day.org/about)
V-Day Monologue performances: How to rock them
- Don't be afraid to say "vagina." In fact, read this out loud, right now: vagina. Vagina, vagina, vagina. Va-gi-na! It's not some big bad word, despite what some people would have you think, and half the world has got one. So why are people so afraid to say it? Why the euphemisms, the cringe? It's a word we all need to get used to saying, because if we can't say the word then how are we going to be about to talk about what's going on down there when we need to? We shouldn't fear the word because we shouldn't fear vaginas. Bonus: If you're a girl, get to know your vagina. Take it on a date; buy it something pretty. You'll thank yourself later.
- Spread the word. Don't worry about telling people you're in, or just going to, the show. If they get put off by the title, then explain to them what it's really all about. If they don't want to listen, or call you something offensive like "feminazi" (a term that seriously ticks me off), then they're probably not worth talking to.
- Know it's for a good cause. Most productions of The Vagina Monologues nowadays occur around the same time: the week of Valentine's day. Hell, we give V-day a whole new meaning! This is meant to spread the word about violence against women. Lots of Universities put on the show if they have a Women's Resource Center—that's how I got involved. Usually, the money goes towards helping women. All our proceeds when to local charities: groups for young women, and a scholarship for single mothers.
- Know that the crowd is just as nervous as you. They grew up in the same culture that denounces the word, the concept, and the physical vagina. Everyone at The Vagina Monologues is there to learn and to have fun, though, so do the same! It's a serious topic, but it's just a funny of a show as it is touching, so don't forget to laugh, cheer, and have fun with it all.
- Realize it's not just for women and girls. Tell your guy friends, boyfriend, brothers, fathers, etc, and get them involved. Even if every woman in the world rises up, we still can't claim equality until we have the men on our side too. Our production had special monologues before the show: Manologues, from the V-men section of V-day. Encourage men to go to the show, to stand up for women when other men dis them in locker rooms, and explain to their peers, sons, etc that hitting a woman is not okay, and that when a boy likes a good he isn't supposed to pick on her. Help spread the word that love isn't supposed to hurt.
General Actors' Notes:
- Practice, practice, practice.
- Believe in what you're saying and in the message it conveys, or else it's just not worth pretending.
- Get to know your cast and crew, because they're going through the same thing you are.
- If you get nervous before you go on stage, stretch, breathe in through your mouth and out through your nose, and remember that you're acting. Why be embarrassed when it's a character saying these things, and not really you?
- Loosen up beforehand by playing games and talking to the cast and crew.
- Try this exercise I learned from the others: get everyone together in a circle before and scream. Then give everyone a chance in the circle to yell out what they haven't had a chance to say to someone this week—relieve yourself of all the stress of the situation. When everyone's gotten a chance, scream one more time and let it all goo. Take a few deep breathes and hopefully you'll be more relaxed and ready to go!
- Seriously, remember: it's all for fun. If you're not having fun, then something's wrong, and there is no shame resigning before it's too late.
Want to read more on V-Day and V-men? So shall it be. Come back and play with us when you've done so. And let us know on Twitter if you're taking part in Vday 2012!
