Yesterday, May 18, 2010 the Boston Globe ran a story about Berkshire County juvenile court initiative that in effect sentences certain youthful offenders to four days a week of Shakespearean study and play rehearsal. The article was titled “Caught in the act: Juveniles sentenced to Shakespeare” and written by Louise Kennedy. A direct link to this article can be found here.
There are many things to appreciate about this piece, including its practical honesty, as evidenced by this quote: “I am going to say this right now, really clearly, on a billboard: This does not fix them,’’ Coleman [the education and play director] said Friday, before the group’s four-hour rehearsal began. “Do they get back in trouble? Yes, they do. But maybe less often and maybe not as deep. This extreme experience that they’re having starts to change them.’’
Today’s Globe then ran the following short op-ed bit of imagining where teens, rather than reciting Shakespeare’s lines, speak their own lines in Shakespeare-ese. Boy, we could have some fun with this on Penikese, couldn’t we?
Act I. PITTSFIELD. A Court of Justice. Five young Ruffians stand before the Honorable Judith Locke.
Judge Locke
Thy errant ways have brought thee to this room
But juvie hall won’t be the home for you.
A special form of service is your fate.
First Ruffian
Pick refuse from the road? Ah! ’Tis no sweat.
Judge Locke
Oh, no, dear boy. A harder task than that.
The quality of mercy is inspired.
To make up for the havoc you have wrought
You’ll don tights and a tunic. And you’ll act.
Second Ruffian
We’ll what? Thou hast got to be kidding me.
Act II. LENOX. A HALL at Shakespeare and Co. The Ruffians, now Players, stand gloomily in Shakespearean garb, holding paper swords.
Director
Speak the speech, I pray you. Don’t worry if it sounds perfect. The point is to accomplish something hard, so you discover more about yourself.
First Player
I’ll act. But I can’t promise I will change.
Dramaturg
I don’t expect this play to change the world.
Only to plant a few seeds in your mind.
The play’s the thing, but not the only thing.
Having creative, wise adults helps, too.
