The Vagina Monologues

"The Vagina Monologues is an award winning play that has been performed internationally to critical acclaim. Eve Ensler's rich text lends itself to many different interpretations, allowing a keen insight to the lives of women across the spectrum. It makes you laugh, cry, seethe and shudder while it informs, educates, illustrates and inspires but above all, The Vagina Monologues makes you deeply aware about humanity. The stories shared are all real. Be it a happy take of a budding romance or a passionate love affair; a coming to age story of poignant self discovery or the painful sharing of a forgotten memory - neglect; domestic abuse, rape. These stories never fail to strike a chord with all - men or women.

-Zebra Crossing Production.

The Vagina Monologues, or VM for short, comprise of at least 10 separate anecdotes, engaging the audience in every element of anticipation, sometimes disgust, but mostly humour. If I had to pick a favourite, the one which tickled me the most, it'd be a tie between "Because He Liked to Look" and "The Woman who made Vaginas Happy".

In the former act, theatre veteran Loke Loo Pin (if you remember the TCS Channel 5 drama series "Triple Nine" where she plays the superintendant of cops Lim Yu Beng and gang?) deliberately renders her dead-pan face and monotonous voice in re-enacting her first sexual encounter with a man named Bob, who "needed to see her". Describing her vagina as akin to furniture just so she'd get her mind off it, and not saying the "vagina" word aloud except with the use of the V-shaped sign using her hands, Loke impresses the audience in stirring up a balanced mix of sarcasm and honesty.

The other act, "The Woman who made Vaginas Happy", traces the life of a geeky-looking girl who turned to an incredible "moaner". She is then serviced by a lawyer-turned-butch-cum-dominant, who slowly explains her purpose in "helping" other moaners like her. A series of laughter erupts when both characters illustrate the various moaning tones during sex, from a combi-clit-cunt moan to a elegant moan, and from a mountain-top moan to a convent-girl moan.

As always, a stellar cast that comprised Bernie Chan, Sabrina Renee Chong, Asha Edmund, Elnina, Samantha Kan, Loke Loo Pin, Eleine Ng, Judy Ngo and Elizabeth Tan did not disappoint. Director Loretta Chen impresses yet again with this season's The Vagina Monologues. If you have a chance, do take time out and catch this hilarious comedy that you cunt, I mean, can't, possibly miss!

*Note: This show is rated M18 for strong adult themes and language. Tickets still available at Sistic. Hurry before it ends its run on 12th Oct 08.