VOA标准英语2010年-The Past Comes Alive in Historic US Ci

More than 1,500 costumed interpreters and re-enactors roam the streets of colonial Williamsburg every day.

Colonial Williamsburg, in the eastern U.S. state of Virginia, is an open-air living museum, populated by historical re-enactors, also called interpreters.

They dress in 18th century clothing and demonstrate how Americans lived at the time of the Revolutionary war -- when the American colonies broke away from Great Britain.

More than 1,500 costumed interpreters and re-enactors roam the streets of colonial Williamsburg every day.

They give tours, answer questions and discuss topics as varied¹ as wig-making or 18th-century manners. Bill Rose is a character interpreter who portrays³ a man who lived during the Revolutionary War.

 

"If you have a good interpreter, you don't have to change the facts of history," says Bill Rose, a character interpreter who portrays a man who lived during the Revolutionary War. "They can make those facts palatable⁴ and enjoyable to a modern audience and can help draw those connections and that's the best thing in the world."

The actors dress, talk and work as if they lived in colonial times. Some portray² multiple characters while others re-enact one specific role. For most, re-enactment is their full-time⁵ job and career.

 

Horses and carriage in Colonial Williamsburg

"It's their job but it's also their passion to come and dress up in 18th century clothes and interpret history for our guests," says Jim Sutphin, Williamsburg's director of Historic Programs.

Before they start portraying⁶ an 18th century character, the actors attend history classes, costume fittings and rehearsals⁷.

Half of Williamsburg's 18th-century population were slaves of African origin, since slavery had not yet been abolished.

"What I do puts a human face on what was going on," says Hope Smith, who interprets a slave. "You're able to see the Revolutionary War through the eyes of the specific character that I am doing. You're able to connect what happened to an individual through their eyes. So it's not just these big historical events."

 

Williamsburg re-enactors dress in 18th century clothing and demonstrate how Americans lived at the time of the Revolutionary War.

Along with the character interpreters, Williamsburg is home to several shops where re-enactors demonstrate 18th century skills like blacksmithing, carpentry or sewing. Matthew Ocketzo studies blacksmithing in college and interns⁸ in Williamsburg.

"People have a lot of preconceived notions about blacksmiths and it's interesting to see people come in with what they know and see how surprised they are when they realize what's going on."

The blacksmith shop provides tools for the other shops and maintains the historic area and buildings. The re-enactors' main goal is to preserve this trade for future generations of Americans. Mathew says he is happy to help carry on a tradition that goes back thousands of years.

These interpreters give voice to half of Williamsburg's 18th-century population: slaves of African origin.

"Today people go to jobs that they hate in offices and they loathe⁹ being there," says Ocketzo, "but every day in a blacksmith's shop there's really engaging, fascinating, satisfying work to do."

Tourists can see the re-enactors and interpreters at Colonial Williamsburg year round, rain or shine. Besides being novel and interesting, the actors give color and meaning to a place steeped in history and the origins of American democracy.

 

1 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

2 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

3 portrays   

v.画像( portray的第三人称单数 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The museum collection vividly portrays the heritage of 200 years of canals. 博物馆的藏品让运河200 年的历史再现眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The film portrays Gandhi as a kind of superman. 这部电影把甘地描绘成一个超人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 palatable   

adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的

参考例句：

• The truth is not always very palatable.事实真相并非尽如人意。
• This wine is palatable and not very expensive.这种酒味道不错，价钱也不算贵。

5 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

6 portraying   

v.画像( portray的现在分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The artist has succeeded in portraying my father to the life. 那位画家把我的父亲画得惟妙惟肖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ding Ling was good at portraying figures through careful and refined description of human psychology. 《莎菲女士的日记》是丁玲的成名作，曾引起强烈的社会反响。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

7 rehearsals   

n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 )；排练；复述；重复

参考例句：

• The earlier protests had just been dress rehearsals for full-scale revolution. 早期的抗议仅仅是大革命开始前的预演。
• She worked like a demon all through rehearsals. 她每次排演时始终精力过人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 interns   

n.住院实习医生( intern的名词复数 )v.拘留，关押( intern的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Our interns also greet our guests when they arrive in our studios. 我们的实习生也会在嘉宾抵达演播室的时候向他们致以问候。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• The interns work alongside experienced civil engineers and receive training in the different work sectors. 实习生陪同有经验的国内工程师工作，接受不同工作部门的相关培训。 来自超越目标英语 第4册

9 loathe   

v.厌恶，嫌恶

参考例句：

• I loathe the smell of burning rubber.我厌恶燃着的橡胶散发的气味。
• You loathe the smell of greasy food when you are seasick.当你晕船时，你会厌恶油腻的气味。