Thursday Feb. 16, 2017
ARTS & LIVING
9
Sharing stories of women, empowerment
It can also be a very relatable production as a female, as well as enlightening you to the plights of your fellow women. If you’re not a “The Vagina Monologues”: It’s not a woman, it can be very educational. “Everyone knows a woman,” senior Heather traditional play by any means. It includes many individual monologues, each read out by a Pharis said. She has done the production before different person. They range in topic from rape and will be doing the “Moaner Monologue” this to love to birth. Some are quirky, some more year. “I love this show because I look around at heart wrenching. The subject is meant to be women and I’m like yes you are powerful, you raw and emotional. The production is being are important, and you are incredible, and you directed by Hannah Hammond and AnnaBeth are probably going through so much and you Crittenden, and is being co-sponsored by still are a warrior,” Pharis said. The monologues combat doubt and self EMPOWER and BCTC. “We want it to be the raw emotions rather consciousness among women about their than a polished piece,” senior AnnaBeth vaginas and about other aspects of their lives. “‘The Vagina Monologues’ is like a battle Crittenden said. cry for all women,” For this reason, there Pharis said. “Kind are fewer rehearsals than of like a realization a normal production moment for all the men would have, with an in the room too.” emphasis on emotional Another thing which freshness. It is a lot less makes “The Vagina like sitting down and Monologues” different becoming immersed from other plays is that in a different world, the playwright, Eve like you would expect Ensler, went out and in a production such interviewed different as “Wicked” or “The women for these Tempest.” It makes the stories. Each of the audience think, and the monologues is a true narratives are right in story, told from their your face. own point of view, and Don’t let the word in hearing those stories vagina stop you from the audience can learn attending. The show more about females is meant to be about everywhere. empowerment, while Heather Pharis “At one point in shaking some of those my life, I genuinely taboos surrounding the thought my vagina topic. The title and show itself bluntly ask to be paid attention to, and was only meant to birth babies,” Pharis said. “And it does have that purpose, but there are so that’s by design. “Behind even just the word vagina there are many other purposes now too. There’s a sense so many stories in that and finding strength in of empowerment with it.” Especially in the social climate of today, yourself and in your own beauty,” Crittenden said. “And I’m hoping the word vagina doesn’t “The Vagina Monologues” makes a very scare them off because the people who it might important statement. It is being performed at scare off are the people who need to see this Berry College on Feb. 24, 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. in Krannert Underground. show.”
Kendall Aronson asst. arts & living editor
Everyone knows a woman. I love this show because I look around at women and I’m like yes you are powerful, you are important, and you are incredible and you are probably going through so much and you still are a warrior.
Crossword: Sexuality and consent ACROSS 8: Strength of emotion or an unpleasant or destructive natural force 9: An intense feeling of affection 10: The quality or character of a particular person or thing that distinguishes them from others of the same kind, especially when strongly marked 11: A homosexual woman 12: Non-consensual sex DOWN 1: Denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex 2: Someone who is attracted to both males and females 3: The only organ in the body designed specifically for pleasure 4: To give permission for something to happen 5: To make someone stronger and more confident 6: The theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes 7: The female sexual organ