Jail Baby by Hope McIntyre and Cairn Moore.
In this powerful new play based on work with incarcerated women, hilarious parody is interspersed with the harsh reality of the cycle of incarceration. Jasmine bursts into the world unlike your typical newborn child and is anointed a “jail baby.” Born in prison, raised by a mother who revolves in and out of the correctional system, tossed in and out of foster care, Jasmine is destined to become one of society’s monsters. When she finds herself pregnant and facing her most serious charge yet, Jasmine is horrified at the thought of having her unborn child repeat her life of despair. Through a series of hilarious parodies, the myths of prison life for incarcerated women are presented and woven together with Jasmine’s journey. From bad prison B-movies to Kangaroo Court, the ensemble of characters turns common beliefs on their heads in order to make the audience question their preconceptions of women offenders. Created in partnership with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba, this thought-provoking work raises important questions about the present judicial system, personal responsibility and the possibility of rehabilitation. JGS.
ISBN: 9-78-1-897289-86-0, $15.95, pb., 96 pp., 5.5″ x 8.5″. Drama/Canadian.
