Theatre Part III

TASKS for Chapters 7-10

I. Find the following words and phrases in the text and translate them into Russian:

Placidity – спокойствие - calm

to make frantic scenes - довести до белого каления сцену – to bugger up scenes

to give sb. a look of scorn – бросить на кого либо презрительный взгляд – to quell sb with a look

lavishness – щедрость - generosity

to know how to pull strings adroitly – знать как повлиять на дело легко – to be a jack-of-all-trades

to fall out of love – разлюбить – to be off someone

close-cropped hair - коротко остриженные волосы - short-medium hair

to resist an inclination – противостоять намеренью – to set one's face against

weather-beaten skin – обветренная кожа - weather skin

coltish grace – жеребячья грация - vivacity

to be on active service – быть на боевой службе – to be in a department

confinement – тюремное заключение - imprisonment

to run a theatre – руководить театром – to hold a theater in smb’s hands

effusive – несдержанный - unrestrained

virile air – мужской воздух

to set one's mind to smth. – поставить перед кем то какую то цель – to reach a goal

disconcerting - приводящий в замешательство - puzzling

it's a knock out - это соглашение между участниками аукциона о покупке вещей по низким ценам - an agreement between the participants of the auction for buying things at low prices

amiability – благожелательность - benevolence

affable manner – вежливые нравы - polite manners

to exercise great ingenuity in (doing) smth – проявлять большую изобретательность делая что-то - be more creative doing something

to be unperturbed – быть невозмутимым – to be immovable

shrewdness – проницательность - penetration

to grizzle – седеть – to go gray

it's a mere commonplace – это избитое – it’s hackneyed

exorbitant – непомерный - unreasonable

to be conciliatory – быть умиротворяющий - be calming

to foster one's career – сделать чью-то карьеру - to make a career

prosiness – прозаичность - prosaicism

acumen – проницательность - insight

to have one's face lifted – иметь внешнее обновление – to make external update

it's no good crying over spilt milk – нечего горевать над убежавшим молоком - м

to have little flirtations – немного флиртовать - gallivant

masseuse - проститутка, работающая в massage parlor - prostitute

gossip column - отдел светской хроники - ddepartment of gossip

the world of make-believe – мир притворства - world of pretense

II. Answer the following questions:

1. What did Michael and Julia do when the war broke out?

When the war broke out they started to develop their business, playing roles and acting of the scene.

2. Why do you think Michael enjoyed the war?

His father was a military man. That’s why may be it was bred in the bone. The dress uniform suited him, his work was not hard, and he was honored.

3. Do you think love is important for a successful family life?

Definitely!

Would you share your point of view on this problem with your fellow students?

Why not? It will be an exchange of experience.

4. How did it happen that Julia fell out of love with Michael?

It happened during their rehearsals.

5. How did Michael manage to find the money to rent a theatre?

He met a necessary man. Moreover he was introduced to an old British actress, who was capable to lend them some money.

What was the theatre called?

The theater was called “Milltown”.

Who was in the partnership with him?

The old actress was in partnership with him.

6. Why was Julia against Michael's taking up directing?

Because she would be ruled by her own husband. Besides Mcahel had lack of talent in both acting and directing.

7. What kind of director was Michael?

He was talentless.

8. What irritated Julia in Michael more and more?

His calmness to the process of living.

How did he change in Julia's eyes?

He didn’t change. It was a change inside Julia’s mind.

9. Why was Julia sad when she thought of her married life?

It didn’t meet her expectations.

10. Why was Michael happier than he had been before?

He believed everything has been done in his life. His ultimate goal was only to open a theater where his wife could act.

11. Julia's dresser and maid was a Cockney, wasn't she?

Yes.

Please prove it using the examples from the text.

12. Who was the unknown man who sent flowers to Julia?

It was Thomas Fennel, an apprentice from the financial office.

Why did she write him a thank you note?

With Tom Julia forgot about her age.

III. Make up a list of words and phrases describing Michael's appearance and character. Say what you think of him.

Appearance	Character
Handsome A man of high growth A person with beautiful eyes A slim man	Calm Confident Trustful Optimistic

IV. Comment on the phrase from chapter 9: "Roger had been entered for Eton within a week of his birth." Comment on it. Give a short presentation on public schools in Britain.

The parents of Roger supposed that their son should be a student of Eaton. They wanted such a future for their child, because the education their was very prestigious and of a very good quality. It was necessary for people of such a status as Julia and Michael to put their children in schools of high rate.

VI. Give a summary of chapters 7-10. (in written form)

Julia wasn’t satisfied with her life with Michael, because of his placidity. Michael’s character didn’t change: he remained kind and polite, but Julia wanted love. After some period of time their calm life was disturbed by war. To Julia’s pride and anguish Michael went to war as an officer. His life in army wasn’t really hard, but during the war Michael aged. Julia noticed that, when her husband returned home, and fell out of love with him though he still was rather handsome. Everything that had attracted Julia to Michael, at that time annoyed her. At the same time their business went almost perfect and they managed to get enough money to open their theater. They also moved from a small flat to a modern house, because Julia was pregnant. Time passed, and their theater gave them a lot of money, but Michael’s character was becoming worse and worse, and Julia couldn’t understand, why some years before that she had been full of passion to this man. One evening she was given the flowers from Thomas Fennel. He invited her to have tea. Julia agreed to make happy the poor clerk by her visit. Suddenly, the young man began kissing her, and Julia was very pleased as she was the appropriate age to be his mother. But after this accident Julia felt twenty years younger. And suddenly she realized that she fell in love. But Tom was a real snob and she presented him expensive gifts and paid off his debts. With Tom Julia forgot about her age.