How Ensler manages to channel the tumultuous feelings facing girls across the world is something of a mystery. While she travels extensively and speaks to everyone, she stresses that her monologues are fictional but based on reality, sidestepping the mess that monologist Mike Daisey faced when he admitted to making up conversations.
"There's nothing I'm doing that's pretending to be something other than fiction," she says. "I know there are girls who work in Barbie factories. I did the research. I'm not making up reality. That girl, did I meet her? No. Do I know what goes on in her head? No."
So how did it happen? "One day, she just started to talk to me," says Ensler. "I think when I feel someone deeply, deeply, deeply then I understand how they talk. When I go far enough into someone, then I get it."
Sade Namei, an Iranian-born actress who delivers a touching monologue about undergoing a forced nose job, says Ensler's words ring true. "It's me," she says. "Eve has allowed me to just be myself and give my humor to the monologue."
Spending time with Ensler has changed her actresses. Oguma says just being around the playwright makes them want to know more about the world. If they began as actresses, they are now theater activists.
"That's what happens when you do one of her plays," Oguma says.
And some of Ensler's confidence and empowerment has also affected Namei. "I used to not wear short skirts. Not because I'm religious or anything but because I was insecure about my legs," says the actress. "And then for some reason, I think subconsciously, this process has changed me."
One day she pulled out a daring miniskirt and wore it.
She immediately told Ensler.
"She was really happy," Namei says.
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Online:
http://emotionalcreature.com
http://www.vday.org
http://www.onebillionrising.org
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Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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