VOA常速英语2014--Opera Tells Story of Pakistani Rape Victim Turned Women's Rights Advocate 歌剧演绎轮奸受害者演变为女权倡议者的故事

Opera Tells Story of Pakistani Rape 1 Victim Turned Women's Rights Advocate 歌剧演绎轮奸受害者演变为女权倡议者的故事

NEW YORK — An infamous 2 2002 gang rape in Pakistan is the unlikely subject of a new opera which recently premiered at New York’s Baruch Performing Arts Center. Called Thumbprint, the opera shows how the victim in the case turned the tragedy around - and became a women's rights advocate.

纽约报道——近期在纽约巴鲁克表演艺术中心的新歌剧首次公演的歌剧，主题人物是2002年声名狼藉的巴基斯坦轮奸犯罪嫌疑人。这场名为“手印”的歌剧展示了事件的受害者将之公之于众，并且已成为了女性权利的倡导人。

The opera tells the story of Mukhtaran Mai, the Pakistani woman who became known around the world for her struggle to bring to justice the men who allegedly raped 3 her in 2002 - and then became a champion of education for girls.

这场歌剧讲述的一位巴基斯坦女性莫赫塔兰·马伊，因2002年被轮奸而知名，此后她奔波寻求正义将玷污她的犯罪嫌疑人绳之以法，目前她已然是为女性教育的拥护者。

The title of the production - Thumbprint - refers to the fact that many illiterate 4 people in Pakistan and many other countries use their thumbprints to sign their names. Composer and lead singer Kamala Sankaram, who plays the role of Mukhtaran, says that’s an important part of the plot.

歌剧的名字——手印——指的是巴基斯坦以及其它国家未受教育的人利用他们的大拇指来签名。作曲人兼主唱卡马拉·萨卡瑞饰演了莫赫塔兰的角色，表示这是戏剧的重要情节。

“We felt that the central, pivotal moment of the story is when Mukhtaran realizes the fact that she is illiterate has kept her from awareness 5 of the laws of her country and of her rights and so it symbolizes 6, really, what we think the show is about. It’s about this person who rises up to become an advocate for women’s education,” she said.

我们认为这个故事的关键与核心在于莫赫塔兰意识到，她的目不识丁导致她不了解国家法律所赋予她的权利，这是我们想要在戏剧中表达的象征，即代表那些站起来为女性教育而奋斗的倡议人。

The performance opens with the day Mukhtaran was allegedly gang raped at the orders of a tribal 7 village council - because they believed her brother had had an affair with a girl from a prominent local family.

这场演出开场便是莫赫塔兰被依照村里的土法律遭多人轮奸，因为莫赫塔兰的弟弟被怀疑与当地显赫家庭的女孩发生性关系。

With a score influenced by traditional South Asian and western classical music, Thumbprint shows an illiterate woman struggling for justice after being let down by her tribal traditions.

受传统南亚和西方古典音乐的影响，“手印”演出展现了一名文盲女性在对她的种族传统失望之后为了正义而战。

Rachel Dickstein, the show’s director, says, “Mukhtaran Mai never set out to be a revolutionary for the sake of being a revolutionary. She found her own voice and for us, as artists, telling a story about that is very inspiring.”

该演出的导演雷切尔·迪斯敦表示，“莫赫塔兰将永远不会因成为变革者的原因，而被排除于变革者的行列。她是为了我们而呐喊，作为一名艺术工作者，讲述这样一个故事也很鼓舞人心。”

Composer and lead singer Sankaram says, “There is so much silence that surrounds the acts of violence [against] women in India, in Pakistan, in America, everywhere and the fact that she chose to speak out to continue by becoming an advocate for women’s education. I guess for me, it's inspirational because it shows that one person with conviction can make a change."

作曲人兼主唱卡马拉·萨卡瑞称，在印度、巴基斯坦、美国以及世界各地，很多女性遭受暴力之后都保持沉默，而她选择了公之于众并继续为了女性教育而斗争。对我而言，深受鼓舞，因为这预示了一个人坚定的信念也可以创造奇迹。

Producing Director Kim Whitener had no doubts that Mukhtaran Mai’s story would resonate with the audience.  Whitener says, “The degree to which they have sort of outpouring of tremendous empathy and personal reaction to the story has just been astounding 8 to us.”

制片导演吉米·怀特纳确信莫赫塔兰的故事会引发观众的共鸣，怀特纳称，“他们对这个故事，所流露出的极强同情心和极大的个人反应，很让我们震惊。”

Thumbprint played to full houses during its eight days of performances. The producers believe that because of this response, they will be taking Mukhtaran Mai’s story to other American cities.

“手印”八天的演出期间场场爆满。鉴于观众的共鸣，制片人相信，莫赫塔兰·马伊的故事将会上演在美国其它城市。