Yesterday was V-Day in San Francisco hosted by The Filipina Women's Network.
To celebrate the occasion, a friend of mine invited me to join her to watch:
A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer
held at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco
Description from wikipedia:
The Vagina Monologues is the cornerstone of the V-Day movement, whose participants stage benefit performances of the show and/or host other related events in their communities. Such events take place worldwide each year between February 1 and April 30.
The Vagina Monologues is made up of a varying number of monologues read by a varying number of women (initially, Eve Ensler performed every monologue herself, with subsequent performances featuring three actresses, and more recent versions featuring a different actress for every role).
Every monologue somehow relates to the vagina, be it through sex, love, rape, menstruation, mutilation, masturbation, birth, orgasm, the variety of names for the vagina, or simply as a physical aspect of the body.
A recurring theme throughout the piece is the vagina as a tool of female empowerment, and the ultimate embodiment of individuality.
The Vagina Monologues first came out in 1996. I had heard positive reviews of this show after it came out again in New York back in 2001. But never got around to watching the show... until now.
Last night's event was to benefit V-Day's 2010 Spotlight: The Women of the Democratic Republic Of Congo, House of Lorie - House of Hope, and Filipinas Against Violence, FWN's education awareness campaign to STOP violence against API Women and Girls.
The show presented an amazing cast and crew of Filipino and Asian Pacific American heritage from varying occupations in the local community.
Definitely a MUST-SEE show that is entertaining, eye-opening and cathartic.
by Eve Ensler
