Mandy Melnyk hopes to shine a spotlight on violence against women by putting on a production of the controversial play ‘The Vagina Monologues’ in Athabasca.
The award-winning play is based on playwright Eve Ensler’s interviews with more than 200 women and is intrinsically connected with V-Day, a global activist movement she founded to end violence against women and girls. V-Day stages large-scale benefits and produces innovative gatherings, films and campaigns to educate and change social attitudes towards violence against women.
Melnyk believes that presenting the acclaimed play in Athabasca will bring the subject to the surface for people to think about.
There are strict requirements each V-Day event must meet, including performing 19 mandatory monologues with the option of six group pieces. Another stipulation is that the play be performed no later than February 2013 and that all of the money be donated to local organizations working to end violence against women, and the V-Day Spotlight Campaign.
“This is an opportunity for people, but especially women, to connect and talk openly about the cause and create a community within our community. The play is meant to bring the subject of violence against women to the forefront,” Melnyk said.
“This is a chance to come together in a safe way and find common ground and create something to be proud of.”
Melnyk is putting out a casting call for people who want to work behind-the-scenes including a director, stage manager, a co-producer, lighting and sound technicians, and an art director, amongst other behind-the-scenes personnel. Additionally, Melnyk is looking for women who want to perform the monologues.
“I think in the Athabasca area this is a much more intense subject because there is no safe shelter where women can go in the area and they have to go to places like Edmonton or Lac La Biche to get away from the violence,” Melnyk said.
“I want to open up more discussion about violence against women and maybe look at ways of making a shelter here, because I think our population warrants it.”
Melnyk is looking for people who are passionate about being open and about being a woman and telling women’s stories that are often forbidden. Given the hard subject matter, Melnyk also knows this is a chance for healing for many women who participate.
“When I helped to put this show on in Swift Current, Sask., the end result was the women came together and created their own women’s-only theatre club because they came together and talked about the subject openly for the first time,” Melnyk said. “In many ways, helping and participating in this show became a healing tool because all women who participate have a personal reason for wanting to help end the violence.”
For Melnyk, a big driving force is the man who once told her to “stop trying to change the world and just have babies”. She said she never wants to stop trying to make things better for people and hopes other women can come forward and help take a stand against all the forms of violence women face.
“I want to use this play as a chance to plant a seed in the minds of the people in the community and let it grow,” she said. “It’s not just about the violence, it’s all about the challenges and difficulties women face.
“These monologues talk about rape and abortion, but also about taking control and being allowed to enjoy things like sex. It’s difficult to find a public domain for these topics and I want to give women permission to talk about it.”
For more information on the Vagina
Monologues, visit www.vday.org. To get involved in the Athabasca production, call Melnyk as 780-650-2047 or Athabasca V-Day talent coordinator Sherrie Breese at 780-689-7910.
