The Vagina Monologues, created and performed by Eve Ensler, debuted off-off-Broadway in 1996. This controversial work soon rode a wave of national acclaim and continues to be performed in North America and around the worl... more »d. It has been translated into 14 different languages and performed in over 30 different countries. Now the intimacy of Eve Ensler's original show has been lovingly brought to the screen. The Vagina Monologues captures Eve's unique performance of her work and travels beyond the stage. She explores the creative impetus behind the monologues and conducts a series of new and revealing interviews as inspiring as those that brought about the original work.« less
"Having enjoyed the book, I decided to get the DVD. Eve Ensler follows the storyline of her book (The Vagina Monologues) to a tee. She tells each story exactly as the interviewee had told her, mimicking the voice and emotion so well that she became the interviewee. Between each segment of the onstage performance, there were video clips of the women Ensler had interviewed. They were women of all ages and varying ethnicities.This was a neat show to watch. The frankness of the subject made me uncomfortable at first. But as the show progressed, I began to relate to these women on several levels. I felt joy, disgust, pain, and awe as Ensler told these stories. She has a great stage presence.The Vagina Monologues isn't about vaginas per se, but about femininity and the taboos and myths that surround it. I recommend this DVD and the book to every woman, no matter what age."
Vagina Pride
David Anderson | St. Cloud, MN | 12/31/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Eve Ensler produced, wrote, and performed "The Vagina Monologues" that debuted in 1996. Since then, this off-Broadway one-person play has since been featured in many parts of the world. Her words give women the power to be more open about their vaginas, an organ that some unfortunately call taboo to express. This fearless performer offers humor, wit, and serious to certain issues, all in the correct areas. She gives new meaning to issues beyond the vagina with more than just her words. Her vocal expressions empower them tremendously. She also expresses great pride to the female orgasm, masturbation, lesbianism, and reclaiming certain offensive words. Amazingly, she performs the entire piece sitting down. Most performers don't do that.
Each individual monologue tells its individual story beautifully and expressively. The featured interviews give multiple perspectives to each issue. Whether they are humorous (looking "down there", sex, orgasmic sounds) or touching (rape, witnessing birth), all have the empowering impact that forces audiences to look beyond themselves. Therefore, "The Vagina Monologues" is recommended for everyone. Though nothing beats the live experience, this DVD recollects this piece beautifully. This will surely be an unforgettable and educating experience for many."
Viva Vagina!!! =)
bambi32 | Manila, Philippines | 08/20/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Eve Ensler is such an amazing woman! THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES is such a powerful, provocative, sensitive, wonderfully written, funny, moving, empowering, inspiring, and most importantly, an honest piece. It has come a long way from her one-woman show -- it has become the cornerstone of world-wide campaign to fight and end violence against women!!! I've seen at least 30 live performances of the show -- and I must admit that it is really better seeing it live (preferably in an intimate venue) -- but seeing Eve Ensler herself deliver the piece is an altogether different experience! You realize that SHE personally interviewed these women whose stories are told through these monologues... and that just touches your soul in some deeper way.If you haven't seen this show and there's one showing near your area -- I strongly encourage you to go see it (and this is for both women and men alike). Then go and get yourself a copy of this DVD! Viva Vagina!!! =)"
A GROUNDBREAKER
Richard Chogyojij | Los Angeles | 11/04/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You've never seen anything like Eve Ensler's VAGINA MONOLOGUES. I didn't see a live performance by any of the cadre of actresses that performed it live in Los Angeles. I did, however, view the DVD and was impressed and enlightened with the bold, frank, and often funny monologues by Ensler on this part of the female anatomy. These monolgues were filmed at several of Ensler's live performances. The attributes of the monologues also apply to Ensler's inverviews of many women on the subject, which are also in the DVD. I was so impressed after my first viewing of this DVD that I went out and bought it. As I plan to view Ensler's performance on DVD many times, of course I didn't want to keep paying the rental fees!"
An important one-woman show, transcending gender and sexual
D. Pawl | Seattle | 11/25/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Though some may be phased by the title of this play, alone, that shouldn't stop them from watching this series of monologues, brought from "Off Off Broadway" to the big screen. Eve Enders, the woman who brings the stories to the stage, is charismatic, funny and quasi-tragic all in the same breath. Though, the theory of this play is based on the vagina (a part of the female anatomy, deemed unspeakable in "polite" conversation), it is about so much more. Enders touches on many subjects that deal with women, identity, relationships and sexuality. While some of the stories are about sexual awakening and self discovery, others deal with exploitation, rape and abuse. Enders based these monologues on (literally) hundreds of interviews she conducted with women, nationally and internationally. The topics range from lesbianism to childbirth.
Though, this play has some strong language and the subject matter probably wouldn't be appropriate for young children, I think that women, young and old, should watch this together. Not only does it bring down walls and barriers in open discussion, pertaining to womens' sexual and gender identity, it also sheds new light on women's struggle for liberation and expression. I commend Eve Enders for her great performance, and sensitive, honest and unabashedly bold approach to the subject matter and cautionary nature of her topic(s)."