If Your Vagina Could Talk, What Would It Say?

In celebration of V-day and female empowerment, the Hudson Valley Community College Theatre Club put on Eve Ensler’s, “The Vagina Monologues,” a collection of female stories. The gamut included tales of vaginal rejection, discovery and angry hilarity, giving the audience insight into the many issues woman face with their own sexuality.

The cast responsible for the portrayal of these issues included actresses Felicia Schaller, Tanya Springer, Cat Noel, Suzette Havenbrook, Krista Toni Gentile, Melanie Diaz, Steph Ellett, Bethany Gillam, Heidi Donlon and Hallie Hodenfield and Director Mat Cantore.

Having been completed in two weeks and four rehearsals, the show was at the very least minimal; with nothing but a spotlight and the setting of a women’s get-together, the audiences focus was always on the speaker. This emphasized the performance and message of the monologues quite well. However, the cost of two weeks time took its toll on the cohesive aspect of the performances.

While individual monologues were made appealing by Krista Toni Gentile, Bethany Gillam, Hallie Hodenfield and narrator Cat Noel, others were not injected with the same amount of passion and character. One monologue in particular was extremely hard to understand due to the odd accent and somewhat introverted fast paced tongue. Although at the end of each intriguing story the message it held was brought forth and taken in by the crowd.
From beginning to end, “The Vagina Monologues,” was successful. According to Cantore, the Theatre Club raised $790, with $730 going to the Unity House of Troy and $60 going to VDay as a requirement of the show performance.”

Also it was apparent that each performer was ready and willing to teach the audience a lesson in being okay with who you are. Whether the subject be in sexuality or morality, one should not be afraid of what is natural, and if your vagina could in fact talk and dress itself, it would be one serious fashionista that is not to be fooled with.

Mat Cantore is the adviser to the Hudsonian newspaper.