‘V-Day’ returns to Laguna

Suzie Harrison

As women, they have prepared for this role all their lives. Now three

Lagunans will bring “The Vagina Monologues” to the stage and along

with it a dialogue about violence against women and girls.

The three Laguna Beach women -- author and public speaker Connie

Merritt, comedian, public speaker and author Lola Gillebaard and Tony

Award nominated actress Jonelle Allen will perform the monologues as

part of “V-Day” at [seven-degrees] on Feb. 27. The proceeds will

benefit Laguna Beach’s Women’s Resource Center and Human Options.

This will be their second year doing the benefit performance, but

the view will be new with professional director Anthony Barnao at the

helm and some additional material.

“It all started a couple of years ago. Lola and I went to see ‘

The Vagina Monologues’ in Beverly Hills and thought the piece was so

outrageous,” Merritt said. “I am a public speaker as is Lola and I

said ‘I want to do that piece will you do it with me.’”

Gillebaard agreed, but had doubts about it coming to fruition.

However, in the back of her mind, she knew that Merritt always

carries through with what she says.

“I had it in my heart to do it and I found out Eve Ensler [its

creator], has a movement called ‘V-Day’ about ending violence

[against women], was allowing people to perform the piece,” Merritt

said.

She said that people were allowed to perform it one night as a

fundraiser for a local grass-roots organization that prevents

violence against women and girls. They chose the Women’s Resource

Center because it’s local and women can call and, within an hour, get

help: shelter, support, hospital care and whatever else is needed.

“It’s just amazing,” Merritt said.

They are looking forward to doing the piece this year because

their experienced director is kicking it up a notch. Ensler has

written the new material and is pretty strict on how people can

perform it; the actors can’t change the order. “The new stuff that

has been written is about what has happened in the world within the

last year,” Merritt said.

“It has come from years of talking to a lot of women from

different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds and sexual

preferences,” Allen said. “Each woman has a unique voice. All we have

to do is show up and say the words because we have so many different

[voices] throughout the world.”

She said that the performances are so successful, so universal

that it strikes a cord with everyone.

“As an actor I wouldn’t say it’s fun -- some are disturbingly

poignant,” Allen said. “You can’t come away from this evening without

coming away with some sort of feeling. Women 12-years-old on up are

genuinely moved and men are really responsive as well.”

What Ensler has said is that women don’t have to be stuck, that

they’re always growing and changing and can become better, Allen

said.

“Because it’s so heart-writhing it’s all you can do to do some of

the parts without wanting to cry,” Gillebaard said. “Some of them ...

the humor is so beyond human it’s inhumane, but it’s so well put

together. It’s hard for us to handle but the audience can.”

Last year, it was a resounding success and they raised more than

$12,000, and have a bigger goal in mind this year. They warn that it

sold-out in a heartbeat last year and people were begging for

tickets, so act early.

“The Vagina Monologues” will be performed at 8 p.m. Feb. 27 at

[seven-degrees] at 891 Laguna Canyon Road. Tickets are $75 for

general seating with a limited number of VIP tickets available, which

include valet parking, VIP reception and preferred seating. Call

(949) 497-2787 ext. 1 or (949) 497-1200 ext. 4 for tickets or

information.