BOLD monologues bring attention to childbirth options

It's a journey everyone takes, but it still maintains an aura of mystery. It is considered one of the most beautiful and painful events a human can experience. And currently, the best way to approach this journey is being hotly debated.

"Birth" is a documentary-style play by Karen Brody, founder of BOLD, a global movement aimed at creating and protecting childbirth choices for women around the world. The play is coming to Oregon State University on Oct. 9-12, and is being directed by Kimberly Gifford, an actor and director who teaches theater at Ashbrook Independent School in Corvallis. Gifford is also a doula, a nonmedical assistant who provides emotional support and encouragement during labor, birth and following birth.

"I love birth, and I love theater," Gifford said. "To combine those passions and find people to play with me (is great)."

The play features eight composite birth stories taken from multiple interviews of women's experiences during and after birth. Each story combines elements of monologue addressed directly to the audience, and re-enactment.

"We're keeping it simple, and making the stories the most important thing," she said. "There's not a lot of flash."

The stories range from empowering tales of positive births to experiences where everything went wrong. From unsupportive spouses to heroic doctors, and the opposite, there are representations of all types of births, occurring in hospitals, birthing centers and homes.

Currently, the growing practice of homebirths has become a topic of debate among some medical professionals, with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association suggesting home births are not a safe option. Midwifery organizations disagree, and have medical studies that indicate the contrary. Those are the kind of issues BOLD organizers hope to explore as the play is performed around the country.

"The overriding theme of the project is to have a choice, and make it possible for all choices, and to have the best possible experience."

This is the second time Gifford has directed "Birth"; the first was in Lane County. The current cast combines experienced actors with people who have never been on stage before, but got involved with the production because of their deep interest in the subject matter, Gifford said. As a teacher, she said, it's actually refreshing to work with those new to acting, and that for the actors who have given birth, it's not hard to re-enact those feelings.

"If you've ever given birth you can go back (to that moment)," she said.

Tuesday afternoon, Gifford and Ashbrook instructor Nicholia Evans took over the Ashbrook stage to work on Evans' portion of the play. Evans plays Jillian, an uber-enthusiastic woman whose dreams of a natural birth took a dramatic turn after she realized exactly how painful birth is.

"You're going to fill that auditorium with the rage of a birthing woman," Gifford told Evans as she tried to ramp up her voice and her anger for an exciting scene.

Soon the theatre was echoing with shouts and groans, and with laughter as Evans threw herself into the comedic side of her role, because after all, birth is both painful and painfully funny.

Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9-11 and 2 p.m. Oct. 12 at Withycombe Hall Lab Theatre on the Oregon State University campus, on 30th Street and Campus Way. Ticket prices are $8 adults, $6 seniors, $5 youth and $4 for OSU students. The play contains strong language and adult situations.

"Birth" is being sponsored by the OSU University Theatre, Women Studies, Anthropology, DPD Program, Center for the Humanities, and an L.L. Stewart grant.

For more about BOLD, see www.boldaction.org.