All This Talk About Vaginas!

by Faunda Patterson

Buy this book to read more about "tasty vaginas!"

On February 11, 2004, at Adelphi's University Center Ballroom, professor Molly Quinn and Ms. Marci Finkelstein put on "The Vagina Monologues" production by Eve Ensler.

All this talk about vaginas. What exactly are "The Vagina Monologues?" The purpose of the annual event is an attempt to make people more aware of domestic violence that occurs amongst women, to make females, regardless of their age, proud of their gender, and to improve self-esteem. The benefit was held for the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Planned Parenthood of Nassau County and the V-Day Spotlight Fund.

All of the monologues performed throughout the night were a mixture of lightheartedness and grave sincerity. Some of the titles threw off the audience as to the content such as "The Flood," performed by Nicole Tonti. She portrayed a 72 year-old female New Yorker whom had never seen her vagina and the epiphany she had while in the bathtub.

Others, such as "Crooked Braid," performed by Angela Bianco, were about the abuse that many women such as Native Americans and African Americans had to endure from family members, spouses, and family friends. Students Madelena Ryerson and Rachel Risen rekindled the mood of the environment with the "Reclaiming Cunt" and "Woman who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy."

Upon entering the University Center's Ballroom, the audience was invited to buy V-Day chocolates, pins, candles, journals and scripts. The audience was mostly filled with women with a few men scattered sporadically. Professor Molly Quinn was quite enthusiastic the entire day to keep up the ladies' morale in order to be prepared to act in front of the awaiting crowd.

The entire production was well put together, the entire cast got along well, encouraging and applauding each other. The audience left pleased and informed, along with a red and black banner boldly stating "RAPE FREE ZONE."