Telling her stories of pain and pleasure

By Smriti Daniel

Vagina.
I hear the word more times in the course of this one evening than I have over 24 years of living. It is a strange feeling – not entirely comfortable - and one must fight the urge to giggle. But by the time The Vagina Monologues are complete, that first, inexplicable embarrassment has disappeared, dissolved into stories of mirth and grief; tenderness, rebellion and reawakening.

“Vagina is just a biological name for a part of the body of over half the world’s population,” says Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, director of the Monologues. “And whether you like it or not, every one of us has spent the first few months of our lives in close proximity to one.” Mahabanoo, who also starred in the production, led an experienced, talented cast in the Poor Box production that went on the boards in Colombo early this week.

The Obie Award-winning episodic play, written by feminist and activist Eve Ensler has lost none of its punch over a decade of its existence. Combining script, prose, poetry and speech, the monologues jump unpredictably between the serious and the hilarious: moving from the horrific accounts of rape camps in Europe and genital mutilation in Africa, to a diatribe against tampons, douches, pelvic exams and thong underwear. One of the most amusing of the monologues is that of the tax lawyer turned sex worker who delivers what is part lecture, part demonstration of the many and varied varieties of moaning. That night, the five artistes on stage told all these and many more with wonderful warmth and energy, making up for moments where the monologues themselves seemed to falter for a moment.

Marked by their earthy, even ribald humour, intervals between monologues are filled with the strange and wonderful answers women have offered to intensely intimate questions: What would your vagina wear? (“The Kohinoor!” “Lace and combat boots,” “Something machine washable,” “an electrical shock device to keep unwanted strangers away.”) If it could talk, what would it say? (“Remember me?” “Enter at your own risk,” “Slow down,” and, “Find me.”)

The key to the continuing vibrancy and relevance of the monologues seems to lie in the voice they have given many generations of women of every social, racial and spiritual description – a idea that is supported by an incredible number of performances the world over. One of the newest chapters in the play’s illustrious history has been its adoption by the Poor Box production company. Having received rights to stage the play, the company toured India and has given more than 160 performances in over 72 countries.

For their 165th performance, this time in Colombo, Avantika Akerkar, Jayati Bhatia, Shivani Tanksale and Varsha Agnihotri joined Mahabanoo in evoking gales of laughter and gasps of sympathy from the audience.

The monologues were heavily localized by their performers – complete with references to Kerala and Indian accents thick enough to slice with a knife. Through the course of the evening, the word ‘vagina’ seemed to take on the proportions of a rallying cry, an instrument not only of female liberation but the ultimate embodiment of a woman’s sexual identity and individuality.

Are the Vagina Monologues only for women then? No. They are neither “pornographic drama” nor “extremist feminist social commentary.” To hear one of these monologues is to hear the story of many women, personalized in one woman’s experience. Based on the 200 Vagina Interviews that Ensler conducted herself, these are stories of sex and love, repression, frustration and masturbation; genital mutilation and rape; adoration, pleasure and the wonder of a genuine moan. Some are extraordinary stories, and some are ordinary, yet they all belong to women – real, identifiable, immensely vulnerable, yet incredibly strong.

Under the explicit, aggressive language, or perhaps through it, the play dedicates itself to raising awareness of women’s issues and concerns. “These stories should have come down the centuries, but somewhere along the way, the voice of the woman has always been stifled. But today more than ever – especially in our country [India] where they say a woman is molested every 12 minutes, raped every 32 minutes, and murdered every 92 minutes – the importance of a play like this cannot be emphasized enough,” said Mahabanoo.

Part of the proceeds from this production will be channelled into humanitarian projects, done by the Rotary Foundation. The event was presented by Kaizaad Navroze Kotwal of Poor-Box Productions in association with Event Concept (Pvt) Ltd. Media Sponsors for the event were Daily Mirror and The Sunday Times, while Hospitality Sponsors were the Cinnamon Grand. Co-sponsors for the event: Demo.