A MOMENT OF CONNECTEDNESS
BY ALBERT WRIGHT
I don't recall the first play I ever went to. Nor do I recall any of the subsequent plays and shows that I ended up taking various members of my family. However, what I do remember is a sense of connectedness, not only to those people I went to the play with but also others within the audience and those performing. For brief periods of time, the outside noise of life disappeared and only the here and now was of concern. In these moments of clarity, I believe I was touching peace.
On May 3, 2024, a production of An Iliad was brought into the Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) for a night for those prisoners who signed up to relax and have a little fun — may be even laugh or cry. Walking up the stairs into the Activities Floor, I could sense a live energy encompassing those who had already arrived. I glanced around and watched as the stage was being prepared, the audio equipment was being connected and adjusted, and the actor and musician were prepping their minds on their performance. I found a chair and placed a few items on it so someone else wouldn't take it. Then I started interacting with those around, mostly listening to what they expected. Some had seen this play performed before and knew what to expect. And, they happily shared their experiences with those of us who were seeing it for the first time. The hype was set.
As with most events which occur on the Activities Floor, we started late. And it seemed as if most prisoners just wanted to converse with the guests and others. Yet, everyone was finally ushered into their chair and a few words were said before the play was started. All quieted down, all eyes were on the stage. From the beginning. the audiences’ attention was captured and then held it for the full ninety minutes. Line after line was said. Current affairs were added at just the right moments to keep this classic take up to date with what most of the audience knew. A favorite part jumps out at me — the list of wars that seemed to go on forever. As I listened, I couldn't help but recall the year (generally speaking) of each one. Billy Joel's song, We Didn't Start the Fire, came to mind bringing memories of my childhood. Sadness seeped in, the number of senseless killings, over what? Power, control, materialistic items, safety ... ? These thoughts played out in my mind as the list finished. Looking around the room I saw the impact it had on others. Silence engulfed us all for a moment before they play continued.
I didn't recall much else from the play. I waited too long to put down my thoughts on paper. But, as I started this out — I remember the sensation of being there, in the moment, with others. In a place that doesn't promote the unity of prisoners, there were a few times I could feel this occurring. The feelings I remember with my family were felt again in here. Thank you for this opportunity. | AW