Sex and sexuality are sometimes two very difficult topics to discuss. This is especially true at a school like Colorado College, where the notorious “hook-up culture” seems to be an ever-present norm. Four years ago, however, a group of students, inspired by Eve Ensler’s ‘The Vagina Monologues,’ decided to try and spark a conversation on campus. They sent out surveys, hosted workshops and asked for original student submissions, attempting to paint a portrait of the sex lives of CC students. And so, ‘Relations’ was born.
This week, the tradition continues. Senior Nora Alami, alongside her co-director, junior Kevin Dorff, has assembled 12 students to bring their peers’ stories about sex, love, and all the other complicated aspects of sexuality at Colorado College to life. The cast and crew, ranging from seniors to freshman, have worked for months, collecting stories and crafting a script. They’ve brought voices to submissions written by their peers, and bring their own unique perspectives and personalities to the script. And now, they’re finally ready to bring the show to the rest of CC.
‘Relations’ is a unique theater experience. Most plays, or at least the good ones, force the audience to question an assumption they’ve walked into the theatre with. This show, however, is unique. As a piece of “social justice theater,” the goal of ‘Relations’ is to force CC to take a no-nonsense look at sex and sexuality on our campus. This is especially true of hard to talk about subjects, usually ignored or relegated to a number of different on-campus events. Topics like sexual assault and the queer experience on campus are brought to the forefront of the conservation at times in ‘Relations.’ And this is one of the reasons ‘Relations’ is such an interesting event – because it allows those who usually remain voiceless a platform to spread their message to the masses.
The show is so much more, though, than a discussion about the negative aspects of sex at CC. ‘Relations’ is also a celebration of our sexuality – giving students the chance to anonymously discuss their lives at Colorado College. CC students answered questions like “What’s your fantasy?” or “What makes you feel sexy?” Predictably, the results are both touching and hilarious. There are pieces celebrating genitalia, Rastall crushes, making love, and good ol’ fashioned fucking. Whether they’re set in a crowded house party or in the middle of the woods, the stories in ‘Relations’ attempt to paint a full picture of what its like being sexual, or not, at CC.
“This show has been an eye-opening experience that has allowed me to dive into a wide variety of different characters and begin to conceptualize their emotions and motivations,” said senior Matt McNerney. “It helps to know all these characters come from Colorado College.”
‘Relations’ is a great piece of theater because it also forces students to think about a part of their lives that usually goes unnoticed, or at least unexamined. The goal is to leave the audience with a better of understanding of how they, as an individual, functions in the bigger picture of CC’s hook-up and party culture. Like it or not, we need to talk about the sex culture at our school. The fact that 26 percent of students at CC report being the victims of sexual assault (a fact I learned from ‘Relations’) is simply unacceptable. That’s one in four students. Something’s wrong, not only at our school but also with our view of sex in general, in a world where that many people are victimized.
And this is why you need to see ‘Relations.’ If you won’t see it because it’s filled with touching performances by your friends and fellow Tigers, if you won’t see it because it’s a well-crafted script filled with original student submissions, if you won’t see it because it’s a great show – see it because it’s important. See it because ‘Relations’ will make you think, and just might make our school a better place.
‘Relations’ runs May 2nd – 5th in Taylor Theater (next to Bemis Hall) Thursday, Friday, Saturday – 7 p.m., Sunday – 2 p.m.
Tickets at Worner Desk. Free, but with a recommended $5 donation to TESSA. Cash, check and Gold Card accepted at the Worner Desk. Cash accepted at the door.
Jack Williamson
Guest Writer