Talking Taboos, Again...

You may recall a video I did of auditions for The Vagina Monologues in Anniston last month. I went to see the show Monday, and I am planning on seeing it again tonight.

Here's why (my review for class):

With its strict regulations on the sale of marital aids and many residents’ desire to cling to traditional Southern taboos, Anniston may not have been ready for a homemade production of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues.”
Luckily the group from WISE, Women’s Issues, Support and Empowerment, hurled its humble city into the 21st Century Monday evening.
May we never look back.
The 13 actresses were all amateurs. Like many of Ensler’s subjects, most were victims of sexual or physical violence themselves.
The Anniston crew made Ensler’s brave and beautiful words leap from their pages into audience members’ hearts. Their collective inexperience conveyed innocence and a sense of urgent reality that only women who can relate to the tough script could.
The show consisted of a series of monologues that range from hilarious to heart wrenching. Topics include violence, sex, love and everything in between while maintaining an underlying theme of self-confidence – some have too much, others none at all.
The controversy surrounding the play no doubt is derived from the strong language and sexual references used in some sketches. But to achieve Ensler’s goal of ending global violence against women, a director cannot afford to be timid.
Director Clay Smith was anything but. His frankness with the women off-stage helped them on-stage to overcome their own obstacles, allowing them to tell the tales that needed to be told.
To truly appreciate Ensler’s message of assuredness, bravery and strength, you must release your own inhibitions and allow the experience wash over you in an honest way.
It was impossible not to laugh as standout actress Kimberly Camp provoked the women on stage to produce various forms of orgasms. It was impossible not to ache as Tina Deshotels relayed the graphic tale of a Bosnian rape.
And who could resist blushing when producer/actress Trace Fleming-Smith pled with the audience to chant along with her an uncomfortable word (which we did quietly while sneaking peeks at our seat neighbors)?
It’s all part of the play’s experience. And really, it’s all part of life’s experience, as well.
Though some were clearly apprehensive, the WISE gals did well to discard their fears, putting themselves on display in front of friends and neighbors. Hopefully when they perform their second and final show Friday they will have gained even more confidence, helping them to better annunciate for audience members in the back.
Their message is too important to be lost among the mumblings of the crowd.

And here's the video I did for The Anniston Star: