“A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer” opened at Sacramento State Friday at the Hinde Auditorium. The play was directed by Michelle Cruff and was produced by Jessica Heskin, the director of the Violence and Sexual Assault Support Program. “MMRP” is a part of the V-Day campaign, which is focused on putting an end to violence against women. Proceeds from the play go to support the Violence and Sexual Assault Support Program. “MMRP” is a compilation of writings by famous authors from around the world. The play was edited by Mollie Doyle and Eve Ensler, the same writer who brought us the “Vagina Monologues” and founded the V-Day campaign. “MMRP” takes audiences on a journey through the perspectives of different people around the world and sheds light on their experiences of rape.

The play consisted of nine solo-act monologues and one monologue which had several actors. Each monologue told a story, some were told through the eyes of women, some through men. Not every monologue dealt primarily with the issues of violence against women. One monologue incorporated political beliefs against the war in Iraq and another involved issues of racism.

There were two monologues that stuck out from the rest. Scott Spitzer acted in “Rescue,” a New Yorker dealing with his issues of growing up in a home with all raped women. Spitzer delivered a very believable performance, convincing me that not all men desire to do violent crimes against women. The other noteworthy performance was by Kathleen Pane who played a party-pooper plagued by the suffering of women around her in “Fur is Back.”

Not all the monologues were equal in their delivery and performance. In some of them I was enthralled, but in a couple I was confused as to what was actually going on. I applaud the cast for their efforts; however, I wasn’t quite convinced on several of the performances. Memorizing the actual monologue probably would have helped several of the actors deliver a more powerful performance.

Nicole Smith, an Environmental Studies major attended “MMRP” on opening night. She said that although the play had a powerful message, it wasn’t too powerful of a performance.

“I understand the ideas of what the play was trying to get across, but the performance itself didn’t move me to want to actually do something about it,” Smith said.

Adina Zerwig can be reached at [email protected]