GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

SEPTEMBER 4. 1998

Evenings Out

Have vagina, will travel

One-woman show explores the mystery and splendor of female anatomy

by Dawn Leach

Cleveland-A few years ago, Eve Ensler was discussing menopause with an older friend when her friend began to talk about her vagina.

"She described it in such horrible terms and with such contempt that I was really disturbed," Ensler said.

She began questioning her friends about their feelings about their vaginas, and was amazed and fascinated by the stories that she heard.

"It just led me from one woman to the next, and before I knew it I was writing this piece."

Ensler interviewed over 200 women and turned her collection into a one-woman show she called The Vagina Monologues. She described her show as "a way of looking at vaginas as beautiful."

"I think one of the reasons vaginas are so violated is because we haven't come to love them as deeply as we should, and honor them as deeply as we should."

The show doesn't have much in the way of flashy lighting and sound effects. It simply calls for a microphone, a stool for her to sit on, and a few lighting cues.

"I've tried to keep it really simple and really humble so it's about the women's stories," Ensler explained.

“Have vagina, will travel," she added, laughing.

Ensler first performed The Vagina Monologues in 1996, and has since toured the world with the show. It has recently been performed in London and Tel Aviv. Critics have raved about the show, calling it hilarious and poignant. They described Ensler as a talented storyteller with a terrific style of delivery. Right-wingers have reviled the show as obscene.

On Valentines Day this year, Ensler performed The Vagina Monologues to raise money to fight violence against women, with the help of a star-studded cast. Her ensemble included Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close, Marisa Tomei, Margaret Cho, Lily Tomlin, Rosie Perez, Calista Flockhart, Winona Rider, Gloria Steinem, Kathy Najimy and Susan Sarandon. The show sold

out.

When asked how she managed to get such famous talent involved with the production, she simply answered “I asked them.”

When pressed for further information, she explained that the celebrities were eager to participate in the "V-Day" event.

"Women are hungry to do something of meaning, and be empowered and be hot and sexy," Ensler said. “The roles that are usually offered are not that."

Perhaps the actresses were swayed by Ensler's convictions that led her to spend a year preparing the V-Day project. As a woman who was raped as a child, she feels strongly about the need to end violence against women, and her show is about encouraging women and men to celebrate women's most intimate parts.

"I think one of the reasons vaginas are so

violated is because we haven't come to love them as deeply as we should, and honor them as deeply as we should," Ensler said.

Ensler is passionate about vaginas. "Love them," she said enthusiastically. "Love my own, love them all.”

Ensler wasn't shy about expressing her attraction to the people who have them, either.

"I love women as much as I love anything on this planet, and I care about their survival," Ensler said. "And I care more about them thriving and creating."

Ensler, who identifies as bisexual; said she has dated both men and women. She is

Eve Ensler

currently dating a man, a fact that has not interfered with her passion for lesbian and gay civil rights.

"I do tons of work for gay groups," she said. While she said she doesn't want to anger lesbians by claiming a label some might say doesn't belong to her, she also refuses to accept a heterosexual identity.

“If everybody identified as gay,” she said, "gay oppression would end.”

Ensler will be performing The Vagina Monologues September 10 through 12 at Cleveland Public Theater, 6415 Detroit Ave. Call 216-631-2727 for ticket infor-

mation.