Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

"Don't look so innocent. You know perfectly well. Do you think you can cod an

old trooper like me?"

He was looking at her with twinkling eyes, and it was very difficult for her not to

burst out laughing. "I am as innocent as a babe unborn."

"Come off it. If anyone ever deliberately killed a performance you killed Avice's. I

couldn't be angry with you, it was so beautifully done."

Now Julia simply could not conceal the little smile that curled her lips (теперь

Джулия просто не смогла скрыть легкой улыбки, что скривила ее губы).

Praise is always grateful to the artist (похвала всегда приятна артисту). Avice's

one big scene was in the second act (самая большая сцена Эвис была во втором

акте). It was with Julia (она /сцена/ была вместе с Джулией), and Michael had

rehearsed it so as to give it all to the girl (и Майкл репетировал ее так, что бы

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отдать ее /сцену/ полностью девушке). This was indeed what the play demanded

(это было как раз то, что требовалось по пьесе) and Julia, as always, had in

rehearsals accepted his direction (и Джулия, как всегда, на репетициях

принимала /все/ его указания). To bring out the colour of her blue eyes (чтобы

подчеркнуть цвет ее голубых глаз; to bring out — зд. выявлять,

обнаруживать) and to emphasize her fair hair (и акцентировать:

«подчеркнуть» ее белокурые волосы) they had dressed Avice in pale blue (они

одели Эвис в бледно голубое /платье/). To contrast with this Julia had chosen a

dress of an agreeable yellow (для контраста /с этим/ Джулия выбрала платье

подходящего желтого /цвета/).

praise [preIz] emphasize ['emfqsaIz] agreeable [q'gri:qb(q)l]

Now Julia simply could not conceal the little smile that curled her lips. Praise is

always grateful to the artist. Avice's one big scene was in the second act. It was

with Julia, and Michael had rehearsed it so as to give it all to the girl. This was

indeed what the play demanded and Julia, as always, had in rehearsals accepted his

direction. To bring out the colour of her blue eyes and to emphasize her fair hair

they had dressed Avice in pale blue. To contrast with this Julia had chosen a dress

of an agreeable yellow.

This she had worn at the dress rehearsal (именно в этом платье она была: «это

платье она носила» на генеральной репетиции). But she had ordered another

dress at the same time (но она заказала другое платье, в то же самое время), of

sparkling silver (сверкающего серебряного цвета), and to the surprise of Michael

(и к удивлению Майкла) and the consternation of Avice (и к ужасу Эвис) it was

in this that she made her entrance in the second act (именно в этом /платье/ она

появилась: «осуществила свой выход» во втором акте). Its brilliance (его

блеск), the way it took the light (то, как свет играл на нем: «то, как оно

светилось»), attracted the attention of the audience (привлекло внимание

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публики). Avice's blue looked drab by comparison (голубое платье Эвис

выглядело грязно-серым по сравнению /с платьем Джулии/). When they

reached the important scene they were to have together (когда они дошли до

важной сцены, которую они играли вместе: «которая у них была вместе»)

Julia produced, as a conjurer produces a rabbit from his hat (Джулия извлекла,

как фокусник извлекает кролика из шляпы; to produce — предъявлять,

создавать,производить), a large handkerchief of scarlet chiffon (большой

/носовой/ платок из алого шифона) and with this she played (и с ним она

играла). She waved it (она помахивала им), she spread it out as though to look at

it (она расправляла его, как будто бы для того, чтобы взглянуть на него), she

screwed it up (она скручивала его), she wiped her brow with it (она

прикладывала его ко лбу: «вытирала свой лоб»; brow — бровь; лоб, чело), she

delicately blew her nose (она деликатно сморкалась; to blow (blew, blown) —

дуть, развевать, продувать, прочищать).

sparkling ['spQ:klIN] consternation ["kOnstq'neIS(q)n]

comparison [kqm'pxrIs(q)n] conjurer ['kAndZqrq]

This she had worn at the dress rehearsal. But she had ordered another dress at the

same time, of sparkling silver, and to the surprise of Michael and the consternation

of Avice it was in this that she made her entrance in the second act. Its brilliance,

the way it took the light, attracted the attention of the audience. Avice's blue

looked drab by comparison. When they reached the important scene they were to

have together Julia produced, as a conjurer produces a rabbit from his hat, a large

handkerchief of scarlet chiffon and with this she played. She waved it, she spread it

out as though to look at it, she screwed it up, she wiped her brow with it, she

delicately blew her nose.

The audience fascinated (плененная публика) could not take their eyes away from