Яков Аракин - Практический курс английского языка 2 курс

its insistent beat and clang. The curtain was magically swept away, and the stage blazed at her. She

was staring at a new country, a new world. It was as if the last great wave of music had taken her and

flung her over the boundaries of this world. The little people77 in these new countries lived their lives

only in movement. Sometimes they were dull. Sometimes they were silly. But at other times they

were so beautiful in their energy and grace, so obviously the creatures of another and better world

than this, a world all of music and colour, that Rose choked and ached at the sight of them.

People clapped. Francis Woburn clapped. But Rose did not clap. Just putting her hands

together, making a silly noise, was not good enough for them. She gave them her heart.

(From "They Walk in the City" by J. B.Priestley)

b) Comment on the following aspects of the fragment:

1. How does the author describe the music? What does he mean by saying that the music was

"not at all comfortable and friendly and sweet" ? How do you understand the words "She could not

keep it at a distance to decide about it"? Does music ever affect you in the same way? What kind of

music does? 2. Explain the words: "The stage blazed at her." "The little people in these new

countries lived their lives only in movement." "...the creatures of another and better world than this,

a world all of music and colour."

c) Comment on the literary merit and style of the fragment. Do you think that

the author has managed to create a vivid and emotionally charged picture of a ballet

performaAcet (Give reasons for whatever you say.) Which lines do you consider

especially expressive? Why? What stylistic devices can you point out in the extract?

XVIII. Write an essay describing a person's first visit to a ballet (opera, drama)

performance or to a symphony concert. Try to imitate the style and manner of the

fragment above (you may borrow some phrases from it).

LABORATORY EXERCISES (I)

1. Listen to the text "Rose at the Music-Hall", mark the stresses and tunes. Repeat the

text following the model.

2. Re-word the given sentences, making all the necessary changes.

3. Extend the following sentences according to the model.

4. Write a spelling-translation test: a) translate the phrases into English; b) check them

with the key.

5. Listen to the text "Chaplin" or the story of another famous actor. Pick out the main

points from each paragraph, write a summary of the text In not more than 10 sentences.

Discuss the text in class.

TOPIC: THEATRE

TEXT A. DRAMA, MUSIC AND BALLETIN BRITAIN

The centre of theatrical activity in Britain is London. There are about 50 principal theatres in

professional use78 in or near the West End and some 20 in the suburbs.

Most of these are let to producing managements on a commercial basis79 but some of them

77 little people:(here) fairies, elves, and gnomes of folklore

78 i. e. buildings meant for the performance of plays by professional companies.

79 In England (including London) only a few theatres have their own permanent company (they are called repertory theatres).

Theatrical companies are usually formed for a season, sometimes staging only one play for either a long or a short run, their

are permanently occupied by subsidised companies, such as the National Theatre which stages

classical and modern plays in its complex of three theatres on the South Bank of the River Thames.

The former Old Vic Company, which was Britain's major theatrical touring company, has now taken

up residence in the National Theatre, changing its name to the National Theatre Company. In

addition the Royal Shakespeare Company presents Shakespearean plays at Stradford-upon-Avon and

a mixed repertoire in London.

Outside London there are many non-repertory theatres which present all kinds of drama and

also put on variety shows and other entertainments. Recently there has been a growth in the activity

of repertory companies which receive financial support from the Arts Council and the local

authorities. These companies employ leading producers, designers and actors, and the standard of

productions is generally high. Some companies have their own theatres, while others rent from the

local authorities.

Music of all kinds — "pop" music, folk music, jazz, light music and brass bands — is an

important part of British cultural life. The large audiences at orchestral concerts and at performances

of opera, ballet and chamber music reflect the widespread interest in classical music.

The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, which receives financial assistance from

the Arts Council, gives regular seasons of opera and ballet. It has its own orchestra which plays for

the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet. Both companies have a high international reputation. The

English National Opera which performs in the London Coliseum gives seasons of opera and operetta

in English. It also tours the provinces.

In 1998 the Government announced the formation of the Young Music Trust to develop the

musical skills of the young with some money from the National Lottery, and donations from music

charities and companies involved in music business. The national youth orchestras of Great Britain

have established high standards.

There are several thousand amateur dramatic societies in Britain. Most universities have

thriving amateur drama clubs and societies. Every year an International Festival of University

Theatre is held.

TEXT B. AT THE BOX-OFFICE

— I want four seats for Sunday, please.

— Matinee or evening performance?

— Evening, please.

— Well, you can have very good seats in the stalls. Row F.

— Oh, no! It's near the orchestra-pit. My wife can't stand loud music.

— Then I could find you some seats in the pit.

— I'm afraid that won't do either. My father-in-law is terribly short-sighted. He wouldn't see

much from the pit, would he?

— Hm... Perhaps, you'd care to take a box?

— Certainly not! It's too expensive. I can't afford it. — Dress-circle then?

— I don't like to sit in the dress-circle.

— I'm afraid the only thing that remains is the gallery.

— How can you suggest such a thing! My mother-in-law is a stout woman with a weak heart.

We couldn't dream of letting her walk up four flights of stairs, could we?

— I find, sir, that there isn't a single seat in the house80 that would suit you.

managements having previously rented a theatre for them to perform in (the so-called non-repertory theatres).

80 The part of the theatre which has a stage and seats for the audience is called auditorium or house (also: theatre-house).

The long rows of chairs situated on the ground floor of the auditorium in. front of the stage are called the stalls (front rows) and

— There isn't, is there? Well, I think we'd much better go to the movies. As for me, I don't

care much for this theatre-going business. Good day!

TEXT С. PANTOMIMES

S a l l y : Tony, there's an advertisement in the local paper saying that the theatre in the

High Street is putting on81 "Cinderella". I haven't seen a pantomime for years and years. Do you

fancy going?

T o n y : Yeh, that sounds good. I don't think I've seen one since I was about fourteen —

except for one on ice when I was crazy about skating, and that's not quite the same thing, is it?

S a l l y : No. Ice shows don't have all the wonderful traditional scenery and that gorgeous

theatre atmosphere.

T o n y : Pantomimes are awfully old, if you think about it, aren't they? I mean with a girl

playing the part of the principal boy, all dressed up in tights and tunic ...

S a l l y : Mm, and the dame parts taken by men. I've never seen "Cinderella". I suppose

the stepmother and the ugly sisters are the men's parts in that.

T o n y : Aladdin used to be my favourite, when a comedian played the Widow Twankey.

And when Aladdin rubbed the magic lamp an enormous genie appeared ...

S a l l y : And the audience booing the wicked uncle, and joining in the singing of the

popular songs they always manage to get into the play somehow.

T o n y : Yes! I wonder how on earth they manage to fit today's pop songs into pantomime

stories?

S a l l y : Well, why don't we get tickets and find out?

T o n y : Yes, OK. Come on, then.

ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY (II)

Words

act υ

gallery n

properties

acting n

interval n

(props) n

balcony

n

lighting n

repertoire n

box n

matinee

n

row n

cast n

orchestra-pit n

stage-manager

n

company n

pit n

stalls n

costumes

n

produce υ

(theatre-) house n

director n

producer

n

treatment n

dress-circle n

production n

the pit (back rows).

The stalls and the pit are surrounded by boxes. There are also some balconies encircling the auditorium on three sides. The

lowest of them (coming immediately above the boxes) is called the dress-circle and the highest (somewhere near the ceiling of the

house) is known as the gallery.

In most theatres the seats for the audience are separated from the stage by the orchestra-pit. In some theatres, however, there is no

orchestra-pit, and the musicians are placed behind the scenes (back-stage). The sides of the stage and the scenery placed there are

called wings.

81 It takes quite a number of people to put on a play. The treatment of a play, the style of the production, the training of the

performers depend on the director (also called by some people producer in Great Britain). The stage-manager is the person in charge

of the technical part of the production of a play. There are also make-up artists, people who make the costumes, those who design

the props and scenery, and finally, stage hands.

The actors taking part in the play are called the cast ( cf . the Russian «состав исполнителей»).

Word Combinations

professional theatre

the setting of a scene

repertory company

light and sound effects

amateur theatre

to produce a play

dramatic society

EXERCISES

I. Answer the following questions:

A.1. What is the centre of theatrical activity in Great Britain? 2. Which theatrical companies

receive financial support from Arts Council? 3. What is meant by a repertory theatre? 4. What do

you know about the Royal Shakespeare Company? 5. What kind of performances are staged in the

Royal Opera House? 6. Are there many theatres in or near the West (East) End of London? 7. What