VOA标准英语2012--Prison Theater Prepares Inmates for Life on Outside

Prison Theater Prepares Inmates² for Life on Outside

And if you’re going to stage "Romeo and Juliet" in a prison, your first challenge is casting. 

"Here, as far as personality traits, the feminine is not really embraced," says Hal Cobb, a founding member of Shakespeare Behind Bars, who is serving a life sentence for murder. He’s also openly gay. "Many people try to project an ultra macho image just to survive in this place, and to let down that wall can leave somebody feeling pretty vulnerable."

Enter inmate¹ number 166200, who plays Romeo: 

"She speaks.

"O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art

As glorious to this night, being o'er my head

As is a winged messenger of heaven"

That's James Prichard, who asked to play Romeo because he identifies with the character. “I’ve been in love, I’ve lost love. I’ve taken a life. There’s a lot of qualities that Romeo goes through during the play that I’ve been through in real life.”

And what about Juliet, the most iconic female role in all of literature? Who would play her?

"I got Aryan Brotherhood³ tattooed⁴ on my stomach. I got SWP with some lightning bolts on my chest. It’s Supreme⁵ White Power. You get them for committing violent acts," says Derald Weeks, who asked to play Juliet. 

Weeks, who's also serving a life sentence for murder, says he joined white racist⁶ groups when he was young partly because he was angry and wanted to intimidate⁷ people. 

“A few years ago, it came into my head, 'What does it matter what any of these people think about me when I can’t stand to look at myself?” he says.

That realization⁸ led Weeks to Shakespeare Behind Bars. He was drawn⁹ to the character of Juliet because he didn’t identify with her.

"I’ve been in prison since I was a kid," Weeks says. "So there’s a lot of feelings expressed in that play that I never felt. So this is my opportunity to try to get that and see what happens with that feeling."

Ron Brown, another inmate, plays Juliet’s confidant, Friar Lawrence. "I look at Derald. I've watched him mentally and physically¹⁰ commit to a role I would never dream he would have picked and I'm really proud of him." 

Matt Wallace, Shakespeare Behind Bars’ artistic¹¹ director, is a theater professional, not an inmate. He chooses and directs the plays. While most theater companies try to create an experience for the audience, Shakespeare Behind Bars creates an experience for the actors. 

That's especially important since about 95 percent of inmates in state prisons will one day go free, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

"By using the text, by putting themselves in the shoes of these characters, they’re becoming more empathetic, more responsible, better human beings and ultimately, better neighbors," Wallace says.

So, not only are members of Shakespeare Behind Bars rehearsing for their next performance, they’re also preparing for the performance of their lives when they're no longer behind bars.

1 inmate   

n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人

参考例句：

• I am an inmate of that hospital.我住在那家医院。
• The prisoner is his inmate.那个囚犯和他同住一起。

2 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

4 tattooed   

v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击

参考例句：

• He had tattooed his wife's name on his upper arm. 他把妻子的名字刺在上臂上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sailor had a heart tattooed on his arm. 那水兵在手臂上刺上一颗心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

6 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

7 intimidate   

vt.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• You think you can intimidate people into doing what you want?你以为你可以威胁别人做任何事？
• The first strike capacity is intended mainly to intimidate adversary.第一次攻击的武力主要是用来吓阻敌方的。

8 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

9 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

10 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

11 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。