Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

непоколебимый). She can't really go wrong in it (не может же она, на самом

деле, испортить ее; to go wrong — сбиться с пути, не выйти, не получиться,

разладиться)."

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"You know just as well as I do (ты знаешь так же хорошо как и я) that there's no

such thing as a cast-iron part (что нет такой вещи как готовая роль). However

good a part is (насколько бы не была роль хороша), it has to be acted for all it's

worth (ее надо сыграть, изо всех сил: «на все, чего она стоит»). I'm not sure if

it wouldn't be better (я не уверен, не будет ли лучше) to kick her out and get

somebody else (вышвырнуть ее и заполучить кого-нибудь еще; to kick —

давать пинок, лягаться, выгнать, выставить)."

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