By BetteAndTinaForever

As part of the V-Day World Wide Campaign, V-Day West Los Angeles was presenting a celebrity benefit performance of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues. This year’s performance was produced by Victoria Russell and was performed by a unique cast of celebrities and activists to raise money and awareness to stop violence against women and girls. This presentation was preformed as a benefit for Sojourn, a service that empowers battered women and children, as well as Break the Cycle.To learn more about the V-Day movement that is rapidly growing throughout the world, you can go to V-Day West LA website.

This production of Vagina Monologues that I attended included Jennifer Beals, Alexandra Hedison, Janina Gavankar and Rachel Shelley (The L Word), Honey Labrador, Meredith Scott Lynn (Legally Blond), Heather Juergensen (Kissing Jessica Stein) and others. This presentation was sold out just a few days after the cast was announced. I wonder why?

The performances were held on April 16 at The Ivy Substation that was constructed in 1907 by the Los Angeles Pacific Railway. The historic Mission Revival style building has been completely renovated and transformed into a performing arts center and is home to Resident Theatre Company “The Actor's Gang”.

I arrived earlier as usual, though this time it wasn’t only due to my anxious desire to see the performances and take pictures of the celebrities but also because I had to check out of my motel and I didn’t have anywhere to go. I didn’t have a hotel booked for Monday night because my flight was leaving at 6 am and Culver City was much closer to LAX airport than Hollywood area so I decided to go the airport right after the party. It meant that I had about six hours to kill before checking in as a press and after a quick lunch I ended up at The Ivy Substation around 4 pm. It turned out to be a good thing that I came to the theater much earlier that usual. And I tell you why.

I walked inside to see someone in charge and met Victoria Russell, the producer of tonight’s presentation. As I was standing there, in the dark theater, talking to Victoria about press arrangements, I saw a beautiful woman walking inside, dressed very informally, with a little make-up and with her hair up. Victoria greeted her casually as if she was doing it every day, “Hello, Jennifer.”

Oh my God…it was, of course, Jennifer Beals. She walked towards us and introduce herself, “Hello, I’m Jennifer,” shaking my hand. Needless to say, this hand is never going to be washed again. Wait…did I say the same after I shook her hand in New York? Well, this time I intend to keep this promise.

Anyway, back to gorgeous Jennifer Beals and my humble self, trying to be calm and keep my wits, which, by the way, were half lost already after the GLAAD Awards when I saw and talked to my other favorite cast member, Laurel Holloman. I introduced myself to Jennifer and mentioned that we’d met in New York at the premiere party. I don’t think she remembered me because it took her awhile to remember the party as well, when she finally said, “Oh, you mean at that crazy club?” Well, yes it was crazy with hundreds of fans trying to get a glimpse of Jennifer Beals and take pictures of her or with her.

After a few more words I had to go outside and wait because the actresses were gathering on the stage for one last rehearsal. While I was waiting outside, I saw them all coming in, smiling and saying hello to me. There was Janina Gavankar, who remembered me from the Curve party in LA, then Honey Labrador walked by, giving me a hug. Then…surprise, surprise…Rachel Shelley was coming in and I thought right away that she was probably substituting for Kate Moennig who was scheduled to appear. Rachel was followed by Alexandra Hedison who was almost running because she was late for the rehearsal. Kate Moennig and Ilene Chaiken didn’t show up and I found out later that Ilene cancelled on the same day for the reasons unknown to me.

After we took pictures of some of the actresses, the performance began. I read the book and I saw the video with the monologues performed by Eve Ensler herself but nothing can compare with watching it alive with several actresses doing different monologues by themselves or together. I especially liked when those who finished their parts would stay on the stage, sitting on the floor and watching the performances as well, laughing and applauding together with the audience.

Before it was Janina Gavankar’s time to go on stage, she came down to the lobby to practice and I asked her a few questions. I know, I know…I shouldn’t have bothered her while she was rehearsing but I didn’t know if I would have more time later and I only wanted to know if Papi was coming back. Janina told me that she can’t talk about it because they don’t want to kill the excitement about the upcoming season 5. I tried to ask about her new series Dash 4 Cash (The CW), a single-camera comedy that follows six teams racing for a cash prize in a reality TV show. Janina was cast in the Pilot but she didn’t want to comment on that either, though she said she really appreciates that there are fans that are really interested in the news about her and try to find out everything they can. I realized that I would have to use some mafia methods to get any information out of Janina, I asked my last question: “What do you want to see as Papi’s storyline if she will come back in season 5 and is there anything in her future with Kit Porter?” I finally got an answer when Janina said that she would like to see more of Papi’s background and family and that Papi is done with Kit, she moved on.

So, it is still unclear if Janina is coming back, though the latest news release on ETonline.com only mentions Marlee Matlin, Cybill Shepherd and Rose Rollins among the newest cast members that are coming back along with the rest of the original cast.

Rachel Shelley and Jennifer Beals were the last to perform. Rachel Shelley was doing “The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy” monologue. This is the piece in which she talks about different kinds of orgasms at the end and actually demonstrates them. Rachel was hilarious and brilliant. She definitely has a talent for comedy.

Jennifer Beals did the last monologue about a birth of a child, “I Was There In the Room.” She was pretty much the only one who didn’t look at the notes and performed the whole piece by heart. At one point she paused and I thought that maybe she forgot the words but no…she had tears in her eyes and had to stop for a second to compose herself. I think this monologue was very dear to her personally as a new mother and it was such a beautiful scene to witness.

When the presentations was over, most of the actresses went to the lobby to talk to the fans, take more pictures and sign autographs. I was able to find Rachel Shelley and interview her since I didn’t have time to do it during the GLAAD Media Awards.

I have to admit something. Sometimes, when I ask questions, I catch myself staring at the cast members and listening to their voices but my brain wouldn’t register anything they are saying. I’m a bad reporter, I know but I have so many excuses and one of them is that all the cast members are so gorgeous and down to earth that it’s hard to concentrate sometimes. Now I understand why it is better not to be emotionally involved in this kind of work but it’s too late for me. Thank goodness for recoding devices, though they are not 100% perfect either. Still, better than my memory.

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