"Vagina Monologues" returns to Schwarz Theatre Feb. 20-21

By Jeff Petersen
The La Grande Observer

Published: Feb. 12, 2004

The Observer/Phil Bullock The cast for ‘The Vagina Monologues' includes from left, back row, Pam Williams, Cierra Olivia Thomas, Angela Harbin and Renee Roman Nose. Front, from left, are Christina Martin, Linda Schreiner, Justina Price, April Van Tassell, LeAnna Stickel, Wendy Brown and Genevieve Ehart.

La Grande-- Take a whirlwind tour of the forbidden zone when "The Vagina Monologues" by Eve Ensler is staged Feb. 20-21.

This is the third year that the empowering play is coming to the Lyle Schwarz Theatre on the Eastern Oregon University campus.

The show features a cast from the campus and the community with a mission to empower women.

"There's only one person in the cast who is theater department personnel," said Rebekka Handschke, who along with EOU professor Ken Bush is directing the show. Handschke, 31, a senior theater major with emphasis in directing, from Oak Harbor, Wash., said it is really a community presentation, not a theater department presentation.

The company list includes Genevieve Ehart, April Van Tassell, Angela Harbin, Cierra Olivia Thomas, Renee Roman Nose, Christina Martin, LeAnna Stickel, Wendy Brown, Katie Schmidt, Linda Schreiner, Pam Williams, Justina Price and Mick Edvalson.

The show will be staged Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 21 at 6 and 8 p.m. at the Schwarz Theatre in Loso Hall.

Tickets are $5 for general admission with proceeds going to Shelter from the Storm. The shelter provides direct services and support services to both adult and child victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The shelter also provides prevention, education, and community outreach and works with community partners to ensure the community responds appropriately to victims — and that they receive the support they need.

The play is staged in February to coincide with national domestic violence awareness month

"The biggest challenge is the subject matter," Handschke said. "Most plays are written from a male's point of view. This play is written for women about women by women. It's an incredible experience."

Handschke said she thinks everyone in the cast can relate to one piece if not more of the 13 monologues.

"Because of that recognition factor for the script," she said, "it creates an emotional connection to the production."

The show is recommended for high school ages and older. Parents should use their discretion in bringing younger children.

"Nothing about it is vivid or in your face, but some of the subject matter is a little heavy," she said.

This year's show will have the same important message that occasionally hits a viewer in the pit of the stomach. But despite such heavy topics as rape, mutilation, birth and periods, the show will contain plenty of lighthearted moments.

"We worked really hard this year to create a community atmosphere, more a bunch of women getting together and talking about issues rather than a heavily dramatic, serious piece," Handschke explained. "We really think there is a lot of humor in this play, and we're trying to pull some of that humor out."

Handschke has not acted in the show before, nor has she seen the production staged. This is an advantage of bringing with her no preconceived notions and a disadvantage of not knowing what worked in the past. She's tapping into the cast's experience, however, as half of the cast has been in show once if not twice before. The other half have not seen and been in the production.

"Bringing (a veteran) cast into a new vision is a unique challenge, too," she said.

The play is intended to get people to think, to overcome shame about certain words and language, she said.

"It helps somebody break out of the shell, then that's good," Handschke said.

The staging is all part of V-Day, a worldwide event that occurs around Valentine's Day each year. The play will be staged at 1,000 locations around Valentine's Day. Such actresses as Cate Blanchett, Glenn Close, Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin and Calista Flockhart have helped Ensler, who published the show in 1998, bring the first V-Day performances to New York, London and Los Angeles to help end violence against women and girls.

Contact Information

University Advancement Eastern Oregon University One University Boulevard La Grande, OR 97850 phone 541.962.3740 fax 541.962.3680 email University Advancement