Tiffany Beckedorf (left), is the co-director, while Pat Whalley will be one of 18 performers on stage when the acclaimed play The Vagina Monologues hits the stage at the Osoyoos Secondary School Theatre on Saturday, April 6. Photo by Keith Lacey.

 

 

After three months of rehearsals and hard work, the large ensemble cast made up of local amateur actors is ready to hit the stage to perform one of the most popular plays of the last 20 years.
“We’re all ready to go and it’s very exciting for everyone involved,” said Tiffany Beckedorf, the co-director of the Vagina Monologues, which is ready to hit the stage at the Osoyoos Secondary School Theatre on Saturday, April 6.
“We just have a couple of more full rehearsals, including a full dress rehearsal, and then it’s show time. I’m so impressed at how well this has all come off considering we’re using mostly people who have never appeared on-stage before. The enthusiasm and dedication of the group of women involved in this show has been phenomenal and I know they’re ready and anxious to perform after putting in so much hard work over the past several weeks.”
A cast of 18 females, ranging in age from 16 to 67, from across the South Okanagan, will perform as part of Eve Ensler’s acclaimed play, which has gained rave reviews around the world over the past dozen years.
The idea to stage Ensler’s popular play came from the leaders with V-Day Oliver-Osoyoos, a regional organization committed to raising awareness and providing funding to programs that assist in the battle of domestic violence against women and children.
Paula Rodriguez de la Vega, Beckedorf and co-director Marji Basso have been working with the ensemble cast since auditions were held back in December.
After more than two months of rehearsals, the 18 performers have put in the time and hard work and the results are impressive, said Beckedorf.
“You put in all the hard work to ensure you can put on a quality production and we’re confident people are going to really like the show,” she said.
The local artistic community has been very supportive of this play and a small art show will be held as part of the evening following the stage play, she said.
While the title of this play might be controversial to some people, it’s actually a play about empowerment and respect for women, said de la Vega.
“It’s not done in poor taste in any way, shape or form,” she said. “It’s a very empowering piece of work that has received universal praise wherever it is performed and we know we’re going to get the same kind of reaction to our performance.
“The monologues are basically a discussion about what it’s like to be a woman,” she said. “There are presentations about falling in love, dating, having children, raising a family, sexuality, divorce, women who suffer from abusive relationships … basically looking at the various stages of life and difficulties we all face from a female perspective.
“It’s also very funny at times and a very honest look at what it’s like to be a woman in today’s society.”
Pat Whalley, who will be the oldest performer at age 68, says she’s honoured to be a part of this production.
“The subject matter is handled beautifully and is not done in poor taste at all,” she said. “It’s an exceptional play and one I’m glad to be a part of. I know all of the women who will be on stage have worked incredibly hard on their parts and are really looking forward to this.”
There has been a tremendous amount of support for this production from the business community in Oliver and Osoyoos, said Beckedorf.
While all of the performers will be female, there has been great support by many men from both communities who have volunteered their time for such key production roles as stage design, sound and lighting and makeup, said de la Vega.
Tickets are $20 and for sale at Jo Jo’s Café and Imperial Office Pro in Osoyoos and at Lady O’s Fitness, Beyond Bliss and Shoppers Drug Mart in Oliver. There will also be tickets available at the door. Ninety per cent of profits will go to the Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre, which offers numerous programs to assist victims of violence, while the remaining 10 per cent will go towards V-Day celebrations.