Exercises

Exercise 1. Answer the following questions:

1. What do you usually do on Saturday and Sunday evenings?

2. Do you spend all the evenings at home?

3. Do you often go out?

4. Do you often go to the theatre?

5. What theatre do you prefer?

6. Are the tickets expensive there?

7. What seats do you like best?

8. Is it always possible to get good tickets?

9. Where do you usually buy tickets?

10. Can you book the tickets in advance?

11.Do you always secure the tickets in advance?

12. What row do you like to sit in?

13. Do you prefer an evening performance or a matinee?

14. Who do you usually go to the theatre with?

15. What are you doing this evening?

16. May I invite you to the theatre?

17. Will you go to the theatre with me?

18. Do you happen to know what's on tonight?

19. We shall go to the Art Theatre tonight; you will join us, won't you?

20. Is there any chance of getting a ticket?

21. What's on there?

22. Who's the author of the play?

23. Is it a tragedy or a comedy?

24. Is the play long? How many acts has it got?

25. Can you get me a programme?

26. Do you want to have a look at the programme?

27. Can you tell me who is who?

28. Is this play a success?

30. Is it the first time you've been to this show?

40. What modern playwright do you like best?

Exercise 2. Translate into English:

1. Вчора мій друг запросив мене піти з ним до театру. 2. Він купив два квитки до Художнього театру на п’єсу Б.Шоу «Пігмаліон». 3. Б.Шоу – великий письменник, і це чудова п’єса. 4. артисти грали дуже добре. 5. Ми купили програму, щоб знати, хто грає. 6. так як наші квитки були у восьмому ряді партера, ми всі сиділи й чули дуже добре. 7. Я взяла бінокль, але не користувалась ним. 8. В антрактах ми гуляли в фойе, и дивились фотографії провідних артистів цього театру. 9. Вистава почалась о 6.30 й закінчилась о 10.15. 10. я прийшла додому трішечки стомлена, але дуже задоволена.

Exercise 3. Translate the dialogues.

Dialogues 1

(Going to the theatre)

JOHN: What are you doing this evening Ann?

ANN: Oh! Nothing special. Are you thinking of treating me to something nice, John?

J: Well? You see, I am free this evening, and I thought we might go to some show today.

A: Oh, that would be lovely!

J: Where would you like to go, to a theatre or to a concert?

A: Well, let me see… oh, but here’s an evening review paper, let us see what is on.

J: What do you say to a musical comedy? – they are giving “Mary Widow” tonight.

A: And what is on at the Bolshoi Theatre?

J: The opera “Carmen” by Bizet.

A: If you don’t mind, I should like to hear “Carmen” at the Bolshoi, and you?

J: That’s settled then; “Carmen” it will be. And now we have to be quick.

A: I’ll just change into my evening dress. That won’t take me more than 15 minutes at the most.

J: Well, that’s all right then. Meanwhile I’ll phone and book the seats.

A: Yes, do, better secure them in advance, there’s a great run on the piece, a famous Bulgarian actor will sing the Toreador.

J: All right, I’ll do it at once. But you must really hurry; don’t forget all performances begin at half past six now.

A: Well, I’ll be ready in no time.

(At the theatre)

J: Well, here we are, my dear. Let’s go to the cloakroom and leave our coats there.

A (leaving the cloakroom): Well, and now for the show.

J: Let’s walk up the grand staircase. We are certainly lucky, only two seats were left and we’ve got them.

A: Don’t lose the tickets. We’ll have to show them to the usher (attendant).

J: I’m sorry we didn’t take opera-glasses from the cloak-room attendant.

A: I’ve brought mine from home, but I don’t think we’ll need them as you say we have good seats. By the way, where are our seats?

J: They are in row 6 in the stalls.

A: Oh, that’s really fine! There goes the second bell! We’d better go in and find our seats.

J: Oh, don’t worry, the attendant will show us our seats. Just a minute. There is an usherette standing in the aisle showing people to their seats. Let me get a programme from her.

A: Very well. Go ahead!

J: Here is the programme. Now, this way, please. Haven’t I got really fine seats?

A: Oh, yes, here we shall see everybody and here everything perfectly well. Now give me the programme, please.

J: Here you are.

A: Let’s see who’s who. Oh, quite a strong cast!

J: The lights are going down. Here comes the conductor and we shall here a fine overture.

A: Bravo, that was really fine. Just listen to the applause.

J: Look, the house is simply packed. Ah, the curtain’s going up. Let me have your opera-glasses for a minute. The scenery is so beautiful! Who’s the stage manager?

A: The stage manager is R., I believe. Be quiet, now let’s listen.

J: All right, I’m all attention.

(During the Interval)

J: Don’t you think it would be nice to have a stroll in the foyer? Besides, I want to have a smoke.

A: Very well, let’s go. I want to see the pictures of the theatrical company and scenes form different operas and ballets.

J: And the dresses as well, I suppose.

A: Well, perhaps the dresses too. Have you anything against it?

J: Oh, no, not at all. What do you think of the performance, isn’t it really splendid?

A: Oh, just wonderful/ they sing so well. I enjoyed it immensely. The music simply carries one away. No wonder the piece is just a success.

J: I know that D. is your favourite singer; she is the best Carmen we have. And who is the conductor tonight?

A: She certainly is. The conductor is P.

J: There is the bell, we must hurry back. Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten to ask you whether you’d like some refreshments.

A: Oh, no, thanks, I'm so charmed by the music that I can't think of eating anything now.

J: Yes, the performance is first rate. Well, we shall be able to go to the refreshment-room after the second act, perhaps you'd like to have something then.

A: All right. We'll see.