By Elizabeth Teitelbaum

The University held its annual production of “The Vagina Monologues” this past weekend. The poignant, introspective and hilarious play by Eve Ensler is a compilation of individual and collaborative pieces that deal with all things pertaining to women and quite literally, to vaginas.

This play is no-holds-barred and brutally honest when tackling topics such as menstruation, childbirth, sexuality, genital mutilation and overall acceptance of the female body.

This year marked the ten-year anniversary of V-Day, which is Ensler’s global campaign to stop violence against women and girls. This campaign works alongside “The Vagina Monologues” to raise money and awareness about female genital mutilation, rape and domestic violence. The V-Day campaign is something that everyone can participate in because “through V-Day campaigns, local volunteers and college students produce annual benefit performances of The Vagina Monologues to raise awareness and funds for anti-violence groups within their own communities,” according to the official web site.

The proceeds of the University’s performance were donated to The Nassau Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which has been the production’s beneficiary for all seven years that the University has put together the show. For the last two years, the production has been student-run, allowing an artistic license to students who are socially conscious and have a passion for directing and producing.

This year Juniors Kelly Glista and Erin Carr directed and produced the show (respectively), which drew an impressive audience that filled Monroe Lecture Hall Theater to witness the renowned play performed by students and faculty.

First-time viewers of the show (which originated as an off-Broadway production) got much more out of the performance than expected. “It was much more touching than I thought it was going to be,” one male student was overheard saying as he exited the theater.

Others who are more familiar with the show were heard mouthing along to the many phrases which are now well-known and resonate profoundly for the many female (and male) vagina supporters.

The stage was set up like a pseudo-café/poetry lounge, equipped with tall, round, black coffee tables and high bar chairs which set a casual tone for the play. Rose petals strewn decoratively on the floor and a book cases gave the set an intimate feel that paralleled the comforting atmosphere the “The Vagina Monologues” is meant to induce.

The overall performance seems to grow better with age, and for those who have seen the last three University productions, each show has its own rhythm and style, much like seeing the same band perform on multiple occasions. Each performance is different and includes several minor changes in pitch or tone that contribute to similar yet separately unique experiences onstage.

The highlight performance was by far the monologue entitled “My Angry Vagina,” which was performed collaboratively by undergraduate Chelsea Chrostowski and Resident Director of Netherlands Sue Guarrieri. The comedic timing and overall stage presence that these two actors possessed made them quite a dynamic duo.

Each year Ensler adds a monologue that focuses on a current issue or plight that pertains to women. This year, the focus was on the women of Hurricane Katrina, which Ensler refers to as “Katrina Warriors.” The year’s spotlight served as a perfect closing piece to cap an overall moving and poignant show.

This year’s cast of “The Vagina Monologues,” which was produced and directed by Hofstra students, was performed this past weekend at Monroe Lecture Hall. (Jeff Herman)