Review: 'The Vagina Monologues' by Castle Craig Players

Meriden, CT - Castle Craig Player’s choice of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ by Eve Ensler was not an accident. Director Pamela Amodio, who recently attend the Women’s March on Washington, writes in her note in the program that “everything about this play is personal and political.” She reminds us that the arts are meant to entertain but also to educate and enlighten and adds, “As timely now--perhaps more so--as it was when Eve Ensler wrote it, ‘The Vagina Monologues’ calls out for change--and we’re adding our voices to that call.”

The play is presented without intermission and runs ninety minutes. The director assembled a cast that varies in age and experience and made very smart choices in the blocking that goes on during the monologues. Lighting designed by Dusty Rader enhanced the presentation and Mark Laucella constructed the simple set. Melanie Del Sole served as the producer on this one.

The cast included about a dozen talented performers. Kathy Wade (who I remembered from ‘The Curse of the Hopeless Diamond’ at CCP) earned applause for her retelling of a homeless Southern woman with a history of sexual abuse. I always look forward to seeing Jennifer Del Sole on the CCP stage upon which she has grown up; here she branches out from musicals to play and takes on the role of a sex worker.

Kate Luurtsema may have been omitted from the program, but she had a strong voice as a sort of narrator to the narratives. Equity actress Rosemary Howard appeared in this work under a special appearance contract and got to answer the interview questions as a six-year-old girl.

Leonora Rodriguez of West Haven performed in a production of the play when she was a college student at Southern CT State University; her performance here drew cheers despite all of its foul language. Doreen Lopez made her CCP debut in what she calls a poignant piece that reawakened her spirit to fight for the rights of women everywhere; many of the lines in her monologues drew hearty laughs.

Shannon Sniffin (Birdie Barrow at ‘Night at Jacques’ at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury) also made her CCP debut and felt that this work was a great chance to push herself outside of her comfort zone. Madison Stanchick, the youngest member of the cast and a student at R.J. Kinsella Performing Arts HS, made her debut at CCP as well.

Jenny Rivard (‘The Curse of the Hopeless Diamond’ among other murder mysteries) played the oldest woman interviewed who probably has the most difficulty sharing her thoughts with the interviewer. Emma Czaplinski (Missy Miller in ‘The Marvelous Wonderettes’ at CCP) returned to this stage for her first straight play in years.

Melanie Pendleton has served as stage manager of seven CCP shows but was thrilled to come out on the stage for this one. Hilary Rolstone (‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Hello, Dolly’) pulled off a difficult Muslim woman’s story. Special thanks to Ian Galligan, credited with marketing and poster design in the program, for his social media photos that helped me to keep all of the cast members straight.

I can honestly say that I always look forward to returning to this venue because there is a chance that I might get to enjoy another performance of the super talented Wesley Tack. I was excited to see this actor as a part of this cast as a transgender woman. The performance was respectful and convincing and it was dedicated to the actor’s friends and family in the LGBTQ community.

As I listened to the cast members tell their stories, I could understand why this work could be called controversial. It tells many important and very current stories, but some sections are uncomfortable to hear. I noticed some nervous laughter at unexpected points in addition to the intentionally funny parts. While it makes points that definitely need to be made, it is probably not for everyone.

Due to an overwhelming demand for tickets, Castle Craig Players have ADDED a performance of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ next Thursday night (February 15) at 7:30pm. Tickets are on sale - but wont last long, so get yours now: http://bit.ly/2mz9BA1 CCP is donating $5 from every ticket sold to breast cancer research.

Graphics courtesy of CCP

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues and she posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theater Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417