Trinity Students Perform “The Vagina Monologues” at The Mill

Hannah Smith ’26

Executive Arts & Entertainment Editor

Just before Valentine’s Day on Feb. 13, a group of Trinity students performed “The Vagina Monologues,” a play written by playwright and activist Eve Ensler in 1994. Based on interviews with over 200 women, “The Vagina Monologues” was created in relation to the “global movement to end violence and crimes against women,” as described by Gabbie Marcuccio ’25, one of the Students Expecting Consent (SEC) co-coordinators alongside Bella Zohreh ’26, during her opening remarks. According to informative pamphlets distributed at the event, “The play addresses women’s sexuality, women’s agency and the social stigma surrounding gender-based violence.” The performance was sponsored by Trinity’s Theater and Dance department, the Mill, the Women and Gender Resource Action Center, the International House and Interval House. All of the proceeds raised were donated directly to Interval House, greater Hartford’s domestic violence agency, who are dedicated to ending domestic violence in Connecticut.

This portrayal of “The Vagina Monologues” was directed by Sydney Yu ’25. It was organized into 15 vignettes, similar to conversations or stories, led by different students. The opening act titled “Introduction,” performed by Mya White ’25, Katherine Meslow ’25 and Kathleen Kelly ’26, acted as a sort of chorus throughout the play, adding additional comedic relief and lightheartedness, as did the vagina facts that were interspersed throughout the performance.

As a whole, every interval was a sort of celebration of female sexuality and personal autonomy. The Mill was packed, forcing a number of audience members to stand along the sides of the room or sit on the floorboards, and the room was frequently erupting in laughter at some of the ridiculous and hilarious remarks made during the different monologues like Eda Dobetskaia’s ’28 “The Flood,” Elea Aylwin’s ’28 “The Vagina Workshop” and Selam Olson’s ’28 “My Angry Vagina.” However, it was not all laughs. There were monologues performed by Amber Gray ’26 and Paz Ortiz Santa Maria ’27 titled “They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy” and “My Vagina Was My Village” respectively that demonstrated the serious, dark and violent side of “The Vagina Monologues” that brought the audience back to the harsh reality of sexual assault and gender-based violence.

Everyone had excellent stage presence and every inch of the Mill’s stage was utilized during each act. It almost acted as a frame surrounding the performance and the story being told. The costuming was especially intriguing as each student dressed in all black with one pop of red, whether that came from the strap of their bra or a sweater. They even included red props like roses or red solo cups. You could tell that everything had been planned out and it all flowed very nicely. There was the occasional slip up, however, such as misread lines, light malfunctions and poor audio quality.

Following the play, there were tables just outside in the lobby with representatives from Interval House and resources in and around Trinity for students to keep them safe and educated. If the opportunity ever arises in which you can see “The Vagina Monologues,” especially here at Trinity, I highly recommend you go and check it out.