The Vagina Monologues to be staged at the Senate? - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

Don’t look now but if there’s a chance – and I fervently hope there will be – and if there’s any subpoena, er, offer – and, again, I fervently hope there will be – The Vagina Monologues might be staged where it should be – yes, right in the august halls of the Senate!

Of course, you’re by now familiar with the monologues written by Eve Ensler based upon a series of stories of and by women – Asian, American, Afro-American, etc. – who very frankly and without batting an eyelash talk about that most intimate part of their anatomy. The Vagina Monologues is more than just about that six-letter word in the title; it’s also about woman empowerment, about battered women, about all the indignities that women are subjected to (child rape, sexual harassment, etc.).

So popular has The Vagina Monologues become that even men have been drawn to it both in the States and other parts of the world where the three-character play has been staged, including in the Philippines (where it attracted SRO crowds at the Republic of Malate and the Music Museum) and in Singapore and Hong Kong (where Bulletin’s Cris Belen, Inquirer’s Ricky Gallardo and I saw it in October last year).

In the Philippines, it’s Monique Wilson’s New Voice Company which is authorized to stage the monologues outside of the USA and, in fact, Monique’s group is now in Singapore for more staging (from Jan. 11 to 17), after a brief stint also late last year a week after its successful run in Hong Kong.

On Jan. 26 and 27 at the Music Museum, Monique’s group will stage an expanded version of The Vagina Monologues, retitled Purple Rose... An Evening with The Vagina Monologues, in celebration of the V-Day 2001 which will be marked with a grand show at the Madison Square Garden in New York in which such stars as Glenn Close, Calista Flockhart, Jane Fonda and Oprah will do the monologues. Purple Rose will be the same as the past Vagina Monologues except that the monologues – 17 all in all, count ’em – will be interspersed with songs (Hair, Babae, Magdalena, Abanse Pinoy, etc.) relevant to the causes of "women empowerment," with the Purple Rose Campaign (against sex-trafficking Filipino women and children), which is spearheaded by GABRIELA, as beneficiary.

Anyway, it was at the presscon at Music Museum the other day for Purple Rose that somebody broached to Monique the bright idea of staging The Vagina Monologues in the Senate and I seconded the motion (objections overruled?). Monique’s eyes lit up and she said, her face sparkling with great expectations, "Yeah, why not?"

If and when Monique does get the chance and the subpoena, er, offer to bring The Vagina Monologues to the Senate, it will be a big, big hit, perhaps even bigger than the ongoing chart-buster (yes, the impeachment trial which has been elbowing all the telenovelas and all the soaps out of the ratings game).

The Senate, besides being the country’s honorable law-making body, has of late been the venue of the greatest show ever put up, complete with pathos, comedy, drama, action, fantasy, highlights and even insanity, ingredients you can’t easily find these days in one local movie.

Monique and her group won’t find it hard to find the actresses for the three main characters. She can tap the vast histrionic prowess of – do you agree? – Miriam Defensor-Santiago as the "happy V," Loren Legarda-Leviste as the "sweet V" and Nikki Coseteng as the "cause-oriented V," with Tessie Oreta as the "silent V." What a casting coup it will be, if and when.

"Yeah, why not?" Monique said again, realizing the idea’s great potentials and possibilities. "Nice idea nga, ano?"

But in the meantime, Monique is preoccupied with the Purple Rose staging, featuring the biggest names in theater, film and television, such as (at random now) Cynthia Alexander, Arlene Borja, Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, Christine Carlos, Connie Chua, Irma Adlawan-Marasigan, Olga Natividad, Madeleine Nicolas, Belinda Panelo, Lynn Sherman, Jenny Jamora, Angela Padilla and Metro Filmfest 2000 Best Supporting Actress (Sugatang Puso) Cherie Gil as "special guest," plus Purple Rose Committee of 100 members Cherry Pie Picache and Coritha. The GABRIELA cultural group Sining Lila will perform a special number.

"It’s a very liberating play," said Monique who has been playing one (the "angry V") of the three main characters. "It brings out the best and the worst in any person."

In September, Monique’s group will be staging The Vagina Monologues in the vernacular. Her little problem is how to translate that six-letter word in the title in Tagalog, without offending some people’s sensibilities. Why not Usapang K? Or, if Korina Sanchez will permit, Balitang K?

"Yeah," smiled Monique, "why not?"

What’s up?

• Jo Awayan is the Friday night attraction the whole month of January at Downtown Music Bar and Restaurant (at the basement of Hotel Rembrandt). Downtown has interesting performers this month. See for yourself.