'Lifelong Marks'
Letter from America No. II
Text: Joshua
Photography: Georgia Oetker
Dr. Bruce Wall
Hello there once again. This is Joshua here at the California Men’s Colony. I just wanted to write you a short letter in regards to our recent production. Dr. Wall, I want to thank you so much for the work, time, professionalism and patience that you invested in all of us and the production. You really do work magic! What you did for us has left a lifelong mark in my life. Watching you fight for us and the work gave us all something to fight for ourselves. You have brought hope in the form of Shakespeare.
This might sound funny but ever since you, Cornelius, Lucinda and Georgia left, I’ve been stuck with this nostalgic feeling. This production is so different from the others that I’ve been involved with. It was more personal, more intimate for me and you brought that all out. I continue to play those thoughts in my mind. I am still able to live those moments. When the cast members see each other we still say our lines to one another. Shakespeare continues to live in us. In these next seven months that I have left I will be educating myself in more acting skills and ethics.
Dr. Wall you are truly one of a kind. I am beyond privileged to have been able to experience this once in a lifetime change. Now I look forward to the future and what it holds.
Cheers,
Joshua
In a Second Letter Joshua Writes:
I was beyond happy to know that I made you proud in the roles that I played. Hearing you say that means a lot to me. My passion is to pursue this path and to grow in knowledge, talent and experience in this field. I’m so determined about it that I recently changed my job in the prison from the chapel to work with Arts In Corrections. I will be able to read and study theatre and acting. I will spend my time working on the techniques that you showed me and experimenting with others. I will watch video clips of myself and critique various areas. I will have the chance to learn more Shakespeare and review other roles in his plays.
I’m determined to be the best at what I do. I remember on the night of one of our Thursday shows a lady said to me: ‘You’re going to be the next Johnny Depp. I know it.’ The woman that she was walking out with responded: ‘He’s going to be even better than that!’ Bruce, I believe that to be true. I now have something in life to live for; to work and fight for. I have a purpose …
