MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- The interACT Performance Troupe held a sexual assault prevention course at the base theater Dec. 4 and 5, 2014.
The troupe is a social justice performance group based out of California State University, Long Beach, Calif. During their performances, audience members are invited onstage to become active participants in stopping the events leading to the assault, rather than being passive observers.
Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Sickmeier, a legal service clerk who attended the course, said the actors created a more realistic situation. The actors played out the scene that led up to the sexual assault with Marines and sailors.
“A lot of the time, you think something may play out one way, but it could end up going in a completely different direction,” Sickmeier said. “I think trying your own ideas gives you a better understanding of the situation, not necessarily before it happens, but as it’s being created. (The performers) stopped the scene right as the problem started, showing us what led up to the sexual assault.”
He added the performance was very creative and being able to be a part of the learning was refreshing.
"It completely goes against the typical (slideshow), but when it comes to learning, you definitely understand the information more when you actually get to be a part of it,” Sickmeier said. “Allowing the (service members) to stand up and voice their own opinions as to what the victims may be thinking or what could have prevented it, and then allowing us to go up onstage and act it out was definitely my favorite part.”
Sickmeier said the chance to interact with the troupe created a more realistic situation by having fellow service members act out their reactions to the scenario.
“When you actually see people you know, the ones who speak your language, you become more interested,” Sickmeier said. “They handle the situation like they think they should and you get to see the outcome. It definitely widens your view as to what could work and what you just think would work.”
Sickmeier said the troupe did a very good job and kept the audience’s attention, and he had definitely learned a lot from it.
“The performers brought laughs out of the crowd, but they still managed to get the information across,” Sickmeier said. “I think because they got (the audience) to laugh, they got us to (listen more closely) and understand the information better.”
Timothy Maurer, the program manager for the interACT troupe, said the troupe’s purpose was to make sailors and Marines active bystanders in resolving the events leading up to sexual assault.
“Most of the time, when you’re sitting down, you can come up with a ton of (ideas) but you don’t know how (the scene) is going to turn out until you actually go up and try them,” Maurer said. “That’s what makes us different. It’s something we’ve heard over and over again: ‘Thank god it’s not death-by-(slideshow).’ It’s something different and it’s something entertaining, giving (members of the audience) a chance to get up there and try to make a difference.”
The benefit of being able to interact and get involved with the act is that you become the embodiment of the bystander in a safe, creative environment, Maurer said.
“We’re here to hash out ideas and thoughts amongst each other to co-create the show,” Maurer said. “Every show is different and we’re not here to force-feed anybody information. Rather, we try to create the show specifically for the audience and we try to address the issues that come up.”
Most of the people who commit the crimes against service members are other service members, Maurer said. He said the primary line of defense is the bystanders in the situation.
“I hope (the service members) know they actually can make a difference,” Maurer said. “Oftentimes they say it might not really matter, but one person standing up against their buddies or someone they work with — being able to say, ‘Hey, that’s not right’ or ‘I don’t agree with what you’re saying’ — that’s what we want them to walk away with.”
Maurer said the troupe wants to get that message across to Marines and sailors in any way they can.
“Whether it’s through this performance or the different training they have, we really hope we’re changing peoples’ minds about sexual assault and letting (service members) know this is their issue,” Maurer said. “This should be everyone’s issue and (service members) can really make a major difference.”