Fil-Am thespian to perform in ‘Vagina Monologues’
Filipino American Munam Goodwyn (left) in Theater Company of Lafayette’s staging of “Edmonds Stories.” She will be in the group’s upcoming staging of “The Vagina Monologues.” CONTRIBUTED
DENVER, Colorado — Filipino American Muman Goodwyn is joining the cast of Theater Company of Lafayette’s staging of “The Vagina Monologues” in July.
The play by Eve Ensler is comprised of monologues touching on different experiences of various women. The playwright’s website describes the work as a “hilarious, eye-opening tour into the last frontier, the forbidden zone at the heart of every woman.”
“A show that’s rocked audiences around the world, this groundbreaking piece gives voice to a chorus of lusty, outrageous, poignant and thoroughly human stories … with laughter and compassion, Ensler transports her audiences to a world we’ve never dared to know, guaranteeing that no one who [watches] ‘The Vagina Monologues’ will ever look at a woman’s body the same way again,” the website says.
Originally, Ensler performed every monologue herself. Subsequent stagings feature a different actress for each monologue.
Goodwyn will be performing the piece “The Vagina Was My Village,” a monologue compiled from the testimonies of Bosnian women subjected to rape camps.
Deep and personal
“I am beyond touched that I was cast to do this piece,” says Goodwyn. “I consider it an honor to be seen as someone who can pull out from her own experiences the depth and breadth of these characters.”
Goodwyn first saw the piece performed in Boston by Ensler herself. “As part of her audience, I witnessed personally the strong reaction of the women to this monologue. Now it applies to wherever conflict is happening as rape is used as a weapon of war,” she says.
“I was dumbfounded and it affected me on a very deep and personal level. I was thinking, ‘What are the chances that someday I would be the one delivering this monologue?’”
Actor and director
Her directing credits for Theater Company of Lafayette include “The Curious Savage” and “A Piano in the Room.” She has performed in “Edmonds Stories,” “Last Stop,” “Shorn,” “A Bridesmaid” and “Fermata.”
Prior to moving to Colorado, Goodwyn was based in Washington DC. There she acted and directed for Filipino American theater group Kilos Sining.
The group staged plays by Filipino playwrights such as Nick Joaquin’s “Portrait of the Artist as Filipino,” Paul Dumol’s “Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio,” Marcelino Agana, Jr’s “New Yorker in Tondo” and Bienvenido M. Noriega, Jr.’s “Bongbong at Kris.”
Relevant at all times
“This play is relevant at any time and at all times. It is important that we are aware that violence against women is not a trend. It is happening as we move about in our normal lives. This is real,” she says.
“Bringing ‘Vagina Monologues’ on stage is a clear reminder of how women are victimized.”
Nevertheless, Goodwyn reminds everyone that there is plenty of levity in the show. “There are also witty anecdotes of women speaking about their experiences or their thoughts about themselves,” she adds.
“People are reacting very positively to this production. Tickets are selling and when mentioned to women, they are enthusiastic to see it. We expect audiences of both men and women.
“As the lone Asian American in my community theater, I am proud of my heritage and buoyed by the love of my theater company and our community. To all women who have been a victim of any type of violence, my heart beats as one of and with you.”
Visit tclstage.org.
The group Kilos Sining is included in the book Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater by Walter Ang. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.
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