Kudos to Fran Castro and Off the Beaten Path

If ever a woman deserved recognition for bravery, chutzpah and determination it is Fran Castro, president of Off the Beaten Path, the new NGO (non-governmental organization) on island. Castro spearheaded, in this small, remote, mostly conservative, and rather skeptical community, the staging of the highly controversial “Vagina Monologues”—and brought it off with overwhelming success.

Both performances were sold out—every available ticket gone. And the audience, at the end of the first performance, on Friday evening, gave Castro, and the cast, and everyone else involved, an enthusiastic standing ovation.

It truly was an awesome performance! Not only Castro’s, in finding and pulling together a talented cast, able stage-hands, and a hard-working support crew in the face of widespread doubt, disbelief, and distrust, but also that of the participants themselves, who fearlessly and enthusiastically gave sterling performances of often rather challenging roles.

I, not being of the younger, hip (or whatever it is called nowadays) generation, went with a great deal of trepidation. I even brought a shawl and a fan, so I could hide my face behind them, should the material prove too uncomfortable. Instead, I sat at the edge of my seat, wanting to hear every word, every nuance, catch every action. I was mesmerized!

The play, written by Eve Ensler and based on interviews with hundreds of women around the world, carries a powerful message for and about women not only the abused, and the inhibited, the young and the old, but also the liberated and experienced. Its message is inspiring, enabling, enlightening—one every woman—and man—should hear.

It’s a pity that the performance was scheduled for only two evenings. So many more could benefit from its content! If it is too difficult to repeat the performance over several weekends, over several months, perhaps the play could be put on at least once more, and captured on videotape, to be shown again on demand? It is far too valuable to be let fade into memory!

Proceeds from this past week’s performances will go to Guma’ Esperansa, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

I’m not sure there is such an award, but if there isn’t there should be, and I herewith propose that Fran Castro be crowned CNMI’s Woman of the Year for so successfully carrying out such a courageous venture!

Ruth L. Tighe
Tanapag