Илья Франк - Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

prettiness ['prItInIs] matter-of-fact ["mxtq(r)qv'fxkt] shaping ['SeIpIN]

This was Avice Crichton's best scene, it lasted a full ten minutes, and Michael had

realized from the beginning that it was effective and important. Avice's cold,

matter-of-fact prettiness had been exactly what he had thought would be so telling

in the circumstances. But after half a dozen rehearsals he began to think that that

was all she had to give. He talked it over with Julia.

"How d'you think Avice is shaping?"

"It's early days to tell yet."

"I'm not happy about her. You said she could act. I've seen no sign of it yet."

"It's a cast-iron part. She can't really go wrong in it."

"You know just as well as I do that there's no such thing as a cast-iron part.

However good a part is, it has to be acted for all it's worth. I'm not sure if it

wouldn't be better to kick her out and get somebody else."

"That wouldn't be so easy (это будет не так-то просто /сделать/). I think you

ought to give her a chance (я думаю, что ты должен: «тебе следует» дать ей

шанс)."

"She's so awkward (она такая неуклюжая), her gestures are so meaningless (ее

движения такие бессмысленные)."

Julia reflected (Джулия размышляла). She had her reasons for wishing to keep

Avice in the cast (у нее были собственные причины, чтобы желать оставить

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Эвис в труппе). She knew her well enough to be sure (она знала ее достаточно

хорошо, чтобы быть уверенной) that if she were dismissed (что, если бы ее

уволили; to dismiss — распускать, освобождать от работы, отвергать ) she

would tell Tom that it was because Julia was jealous of her (он сказала бы Тому,

что это из-за того, что Джулия ревновала к ней). He loved her and would

believe anything she said (он любил ее и поверит во все, что она скажет). He

might even think that Julia had put this affront on her (он может даже подумать,

что Джулия нанесла ей такое оскорбление; affront — обида, унижение,

публичное оскорбление ) in revenge for his desertion (из мести за то что он ее

бросил; desertion — дезертирство ). No, no, she must stay (нет, нет, она

должна остаться). She must play the part, and fail (она должна сыграть эту роль

и провалиться); and Tom must see with his own eyes (и Том должен увидеть,

своими собственными глазами) what a bad actress she was (какой плохой

актрисой она была). They both of them thought the play would make her (они

оба думали, что этот спектакль устроит ее /карьеру/). Fools (дураки). It would

kill her (он похоронит: «убьет» ее).

meaningless ['mi:nINlIs] affront [q'frAnt] revenge [rI'vendZ]

desertion [dI'zq:S(q)n]

"That wouldn't be so easy. I think you ought to give her a chance."

"She's so awkward, her gestures are so meaningless."

Julia reflected. She had her reasons for wishing to keep Avice in the cast. She

knew her well enough to be sure that if she were dismissed she would tell Tom that

it was because Julia was jealous of her. He loved her and would believe anything

she said. He might even think that Julia had put this affront on her in revenge for

his desertion. No, no, she must stay. She must play the part, and fail; and Tom

must see with his own eyes what a bad actress she was. They both of them thought

the play would make her. Fools. It would kill her.

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"You know how clever you are, Michael (ты же знаешь, как ты талантлив,

Майкл), I'm sure you can train her (я уверена, что ты можешь научить ее) if

you're willing to take a little trouble (если ты захочешь приложить усилия)."

"But that's just it (но в этом-то и дело: «но это как раз это»), she doesn't seem

able to take direction (она, кажется, неспособна следовать указаниям). I show

her exactly how to say a line (я показываю ей, как точно произносить реплику)

and then she goes and says it in her own way (и вот она идет и говорит ее

совершенно по-своему). You wouldn't believe it (ты не поверишь в это), but

sometimes I can hardly help thinking (но иногда я почти что уверен: «не могу

не думать») she's under the delusion (что она пребывает в уверенности: «под

заблуждением») that she knows better than I do (что она знает лучше, чем я)."

"You make her nervous (ты нервируешь ее). When you tell her to do something

(когда ты говоришь ей сделать что-то) she's in such a dither (она так дрожит;

dither — смятение, дрожание ) she doesn't know what she's up to (что забывает:

«не знает», на что способна ; to be up to — зд. быть способным )."

"Good lord (Господи), no one could be more easy than I am (никто не может

быть более снисходительным, чем я; easy — легкий, удобный, уживчивый ).

I've never even been sharp with her (я никогда даже не был резок с ней)."

Julia gave him an affectionate smile (Джулия улыбнулась ему с нежностью).

"Are you going to pretend (ты что, собираешься делать вид) that you really don't

know (что ты действительно не знаешь) what's the matter with her (что с ней

такое)?"

"No, what (нет, а что)?"

delusion [dI'lu:Z(q)n] dither ['dIDq] sharp [SQ:p]

"You know how clever you are, Michael, I'm sure you can train her if you're

willing to take a little trouble."

"But that's just it, she doesn't seem able to take direction. I show her exactly how to

say a line and then she goes and says it in her own way. You wouldn't believe it,

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but sometimes I can hardly help thinking she's under the delusion that she knows

better than I do."

"You make her nervous. When you tell her to do something she's in such a dither

she doesn't know what she's up to."

"Good lord, no one could be more easy than I am. I've never even been sharp with

her."

Julia gave him an affectionate smile.

"Are you going to pretend that you really don't know what's the matter with her?"

"No, what?"

He looked at her with a blank face (он взглянул на нее с ничего не

понимающим: «не выражающим» лицом).

"Come off it, darling (да брось ты, дорогой). Haven't you noticed (неужели ты

не заметил) that she's madly in love with you (что она безумно влюблена в

тебя)?"

"With me (в меня)? But I thought she was practically engaged to Tom (но я

думала, что она практически помолвлена с Томом). Nonsense (чепуха). You're

always fancying things like that (ты всегда выдумываешь подобные вещи)."

"But it's quite obvious (но это же совершенно очевидно). After all she isn't the

first who's fallen for your fatal beauty (в конце концов, она не первая, кто пал от

твоей роковой красоты; to fall (fell, fallen) for smth. — попасться на удочку ),

and I don't suppose she'll be the last (и я так полагаю, что она и не последняя)."

"Heaven knows (видит Бог), I don't want to queer poor Tom's pitch (я не хочу

подложить бедняге Тому свинью ; to queer smb.'s pitch — разрушить чьи-либо

планы, надежды )."

"It's not your fault, is it (это же не твоя вина, так)?"

"What d'you want me to do about it then (и что ты хочешь чтобы я сделал /с

этим/)?"

"Well, I think you ought to be nice to her (ну, я думаю, что тебе следует быть

милым с ней). She's very young, you know, poor thing (она очень молода, ты

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знаешь, бедняжка). What she wants is a helping hand (что ей нужно — так это

рука помощи). If you took her alone a few times and went through the part with

her (если бы ты пригласил ее одну пару раз и прошел бы с ней роль; to go

through — зд. тщательно, пункт за пунктом разбирать что-либо ) I believe

you could do wonders (я верю, что вы могли бы творить чудеса). Why don't you

take her out to lunch one day (почему бы тебе не пригласить ее к ланчу на

днях) and have a talk to her (и не поговорить с ней)?"

She saw the gleam in Michael's eyes (она увидела блеск в глазах Майкла) as he

considered the proposition (когда он обдумывал это предложение) and the

shadow of a smile that was outlined on his lips (и тень улыбки, что заиграла:

«наметилась» на его губах; to outline — нарисовать контур, оттенить ).

blank [blxNk] fatal ['feItl] queer [kwIq] pitch [pItS]

He looked at her with a blank face.

"Come off it, darling. Haven't you noticed that she's madly in love with you?"

"With me? But I thought she was practically engaged to Tom. Nonsense. You're

always fancying things like that."

"But it's quite obvious. After all she isn't the first who's fallen for your fatal beauty,

and I don't suppose she'll be the last."

"Heaven knows, I don't want to queer poor Tom's pitch."

"It's not your fault, is it?"

"What d'you want me to do about it then?"

"Well, I think you ought to be nice to her. She's very young, you know, poor thing.

What she wants is a helping hand. If you took her alone a few times and went