"Los Monólogos de la Vagina," the Spanish version of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues,” opened at the Westside Theatre on May 18 with stellar performances by Kate del Castillo, Angélica María and Angélica Vale. They tell the stories of several women, from businesswomen to war refugees, in a funny, quirky way that also makes you think. The show not only focuses on women getting to know themselves, telling their experiences while exploring their own vaginas, but it also tells the devastating stories of those ladies who have been abused both physically and emotionally.
Continuing with its successful run, “Los Monólogos de la Vagina” will rotate the cast, and as it was previously announced, starting June 3, Tony nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega, María Cellario and Flor de Liz Pérez will step in. Latin Times got the chance to talk to Daphne, known for her role as Mimi in the acclaimed musical “Rent” and also Conchita in “Anna in the Tropics.” Those roles scored her two Tony nominations. Rubin-Vega successfully played Magenta in “Rocky Horror Show,” Fantine in “Les Miserables” and Stella in the first multicultural Broadway adaptation of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” She’s also been in her share of Off-Broadway shows, and TV appearances.
Daphne took some time from her rehearsal schedule to speak to us regarding her role in “Los Monólogos de la Vagina,” in which she will be performing entirely in Spanish for the first time.
LT: You’ve always worked in English. What motivated you to take on this role in Spanish?
DRV: It’s a challenge. The best challenge I could hope for. I was offered to do it and I immediately said yes without thinking it. It was a reflex. I don’t choose my roles as much as they choose me, so when this came along, I had to say yes. And I thought to myself, “What the hell are you doing Daph? You’ve never done this, you’ve never done this in Spanish!”
LT: Do you feel comfortable enough with your Spanish to do this play? Is there anything that you wish you still had the time to improve?
DRV: I always wish I had more time to improve things. But I wish I had the time to go to Panamá for a month to be with my brothers and speak Spanish all the time. I remember when I was about my son’s age, I would ask my mom stuff and she would say “Cómo?” “Qué?” And I’m like “Can I have … ” and she would be “Yo no te entiendo!” And she would make me speak to her in Spanish and it was so frustrating, and she would say “Algún día me vas a agradecer.” And she was right. I think what was really helpful for me was throwing me in the Latino environment, and going to Panamá all the time. I’m a Latina New Yorker in the flesh, so it makes me very excited to do the monologues here, because I know a lot of Latinas and it feels like for the first time in my life I’m doing something for “mi gente” for “mis mujeres.”
LT: You’ve done so much work as an actress, from Mimi in "Rent" to most recently an appearance in "Smash" and now the monologues. What has been the best role that you’ve ever played?
DRV: The best role that I’ve ever played is usually the last role that I’ve played, or the role that I’m playing right now. I say that because I have to invest a lot of my energy in that. I had a lot of fun earlier in my career. “Rent” was a very hallmark role, and I think I can honestly say that it changed my life considerably. It’s something that it’s hard to talk about because it’s hard to talk about an experience when you’re experiencing it, but it changed the trajectory of my life. “Anna in the Tropics” was an amazing role, and Magenta in “The Rocky Horror Show.”
LT: What are you looking forward to in this new experience with “Los Monólogos de la Vagina”?
DRV: I look forward to working with Flori and María. I know Flori (Flor de Liz Perez). She’s like family. It’s going to be a rocking show!
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