Duke women answer All of the Above

A woman steps into the spotlight and proclaims, "You know what I hate? Dating."

That was the first of a number of strong statements which opened All of the Above, a series of monologues about the diversity and depth of female experiences at Duke. The play, which ran last Friday and Saturday, featured female actors performing pieces written by other Duke women. Directors Laura Fausch and Grace Tan, both seniors, paired each actor with one or two monologues.

The actors channel the emotions felt by the faceless writers. Since the sentiments described in the monologues are not their own, the actors convey the universality of the experiences.

Each monologue speaks to the actors in a unique way, said Nathalie Basile, a freshman that contributed to one of the discussions that followed each show. "You hear the voices of other women and you can perform it for them."

The stories ranged from roommate problems, job rejection and ever-present cattiness to more serious problems such as date rape and eating disorders. Tan said the directors considered the scope of the issues in choosing the monologues, hoping to enlarge the understanding of being a woman at Duke.

Laura Pyatt, a junior in the show, echoed this sentiment. "I think a lot of this play is about breaking down barriers and facades," she said. "It's about getting in touch with what's inside."

The play was first created three years ago in response to former President Nan Keohane's Women's Initiative at Duke, which sought to study the experiences of females on campus. The show's form took inspiration from Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues, said Tan. Each year, the play features new monologues submitted by Duke women.

Tan described All of the Above as a mirror for Duke. Because it features fresh monologues each year, she said it could serve as a "thermometer for how we are making changes."