Review of Vagina Monologues
by Ayushman on Sep 1 2018 11:29PM (IST)
Review of the Stand up show ‘Vagina Monologues’ @ Canvas Laugh Club Phoenix , Parel , Mumbai on 25/08/2018 at 6 pm
The genre of stand up talk has its limitations in comparison to that of a play but the relevance of the topic and it’s marvellous rendition by all the four performers marked its grand success. It’s an achievement of the team that slogged in the initial phase to make it happen before the Indian audience and then keep it happening for the last sixteen years . The monologues are ultimately a solid dialogue especially with the females and then males quagmired in the atavistic , unscientific & patriarchal understanding of vagina and typical Indian concepts such as ‘ yoni shuchita ‘ or purity of vagina . It deals with the existence, functionality, joys , and sorrow of vagina .The show in an oblique , sarcastic and hilarious manner comes heavily on misogynistic value system as well as women’s perception of their vital organ.
The Bosnian rapes monologue , depicting rape as a horrible systematic tool of subjugation rendered both by Dolly Thakore and Mahabanoo Modi-Kotwal was lyrical and engrossing . Mona Ambegaonkar interspersing her monologue with the mention of Nirbhaya , Badaun and the most reprehensible Kathua rape in a riveting and touching manner was at her best . Her monologue on deflowering of young women by their kin was poignant enough to bare the safety at home . In the same vein she has mimed a monosyllabic reductionist national channel anchor wonderfully . So was Swati Das with her monologues of moaning and groaning of the most pristine and primordial ecstasy of orgasm in myriad ways .Her Shevanta has jovially brought forth the initial awe of vagina and its joyful exploration by her partner. The show might do away with exhortation of Choot monologue with dholak by her which is harsh,shrill and not in sync with the show . I feel it dilutes the otherwise serious tone of an unusual topic . It can also add a monologue on women artists whose body appeal is manipulated shrewdly by market patriarchy masquerading as male libido in entertainment industry for profits . On the rape episode the cruel two fingers test needs to be talked.
The show has vaginas reverberating nascent,young,old,beautiful, ugly ,dry ,slimy,smelly, ,mutilated,violated,wounded,circumcised,humiliated,cheated,innocent,obedient,rebel,trafficked,@menarche,menstruating,delivering,menopausal,& at eternal rest . Finally one must reckon Eve Ensler for delving deep into the multilayered vagina and challenging human thoughts in a creative manner . Understanding one’s gender is a step to understand oneself . It may also be an endeavour to shed baggage by birth and become free . To sum it up its a show rich in content and enriching in form . It needs to be translated in all Indian languages and made available to all men and women.
AYUSHMAN
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