W.S. Maugham "Theater"

Chapters  7 – 10

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

Placidity - спокойствие, to make frantic scenes – доводить до белого каления, to give sb. a look of scorn – презрительно смотреть, lavishness - щедрость, to know how to pull strings adroitly – знать как пускать в ход свои связи, to fall out of love - разлюбить, close-cropped hair – коротко стриженые волосы, to resist an inclination – сдержать порыв, weather-beaten skin – обветренная кожа, coltish grace – щенячья грация, to be on active service – находиться в действующей армии, confinement - роды, to run a theatre – управлять театром, effusive - экспансивный, virile air – зрелый вид, to set one's mind to smth. – стремиться к чему-либо, disconcerting - смущающий, it's a knock out - ошеломительно, amiability - благожелательность, affable manner – в учтивой манере, to exercise great ingenuity in (doing) smth. – проявлять огромную изобретательность в чем-то, to be unperturbed - быть невозмутимым, shrewdness - проницательность, to grizzle - волноваться, it's a mere commonplace – это чистая банальность, exorbitant - чрезмерный, to be conciliatory – быть дружелюбным, to foster one's career – способствовать чьей-то карьере, prosiness - прозаичность, acumen - проницательность, to have one's face lifted – подтянуть кожу лица, it's no good crying over spilt milk – потерянного не воротишь, to have little flirtations – заводить небольшие интрижки, masseuse - массажистка, gossip column – колонка светской хроники, the world of make-believe – мир притворства.

II. Answer the following questions:

1.      What did Michael and Julia do when the war broke out? – They lived London and performed in a theatre. Then, Michael went to war as an officer and Julia continued to play in the theatre.   2. Why do you think Michael enjoyed the war? Michael enjoyed the war because he became popular in the regimental mess, and the officers accepted him almost at once, even though he was an actor, as one of themselves. It was as though the family of soldiers from which he was born had set a seal on him so that he fell instinctively into the manner and way of thinking of the professional soldier. 3. Do you think love is important for a successful family life? Would you share your point of view on this problem with your fellow students? – Love is an important thing and successful family life can’t be without it. It gives us happiness and supports in difficult times. 4. How did it happen that Julia fell out of love with Michael? She became tired of her attempts to conquer him? And moreover she noticed that he was no longer a young handsome man whom she fell in love with. 5. How did Michael manage to find the money to rent a theatre? What was the theatre called? Who was in the partnership with him? During an epidemic of influenza Michael’s parents died and left him nearly four thousand pounds, and this with his own savings and Julia's brought up their joint capital to seven thousand. But the rent of theatres had gone up enormously, the salaries of actors and the wages of stagehands had increased, so that the expense of running a theatre was very much greater than it had been before the war. Then they found a rich woman Mrs. de Vries, not so old, who was interested not in the man but in Julia. She gave them the rest of the necessary sum to open the theatre. She had a passion for the stage and she became their partner. The theatre was then called the Siddons Theatre. 6. Why was Julia against Michael's taking up directing? Michael had no fantasy and his ideas were commonplace. She was not sure that he would have authority over the cast. 7. What kind of director was Michael? Michael was thorough and worked hard. He was getting more out of Julia than any other director had done, because he knew what she was capable of, and was familiar with her every inflection, every glance of her eyes, every graceful movement. With the cast he was conciliatory and exacting at the same time. When tempers were frayed his good humor, his real kindliness smoothed things over.  8. What irritated Julia in Michael more and more? How did he change in Julia's eyes? Michael’s thrift, which in the early days had seemed an amusing, rather touching trait, now revolted her. Moreover, he no longer smelt like a youth, he smelt like a man. Besides, as a youth he had taken his beauty for granted, but that time he began to pay more attention to it and spared no pains to keep what was left of it. It became an obsession. He devoted anxious care to his figure. He never ate a fattening thing and never forgot his exercises. 9. Why was Julia sad when she thought of her married life? Just because Julia’s love to Michael had died she felt that life had cheated her.10. Why was Michael happier than he had been before? When Julia fell out of love with Michael, she no longer made any demands on him. Moreover, the man thought with satisfaction that the birth of the baby had calmed his wife down; she was much easier to get on with, she never made scenes any more. At the same time, Michael was happier when he founded his own theatre, where plays were crowned with success. 11. Julia's dresser and maid was a Cockney, wasn't she? Please prove it using the examples from the text. For the little I eat I've got all the teeth I want. It'd only fidget me to 'ave a lot of elephant's tusks in me mouth. 12. Who was the unknown man who sent flowers to Julia? Why did she write him a thank you note? It was Mr. Thomas Fennell. Julia wrote a thank you note, because she was naturally polite and, besides, it was a principle with her to answer all fan letters. That was how she kept in touch with her public.

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

had a very good figure, a great mass of curling chestnut hair and large deep blue eyes, a straight nose and small ears; was the most handsome actor on the English stage; had an easy manner and he talked like a gentleman; was kind, friendly, honest, unselfish, bit shy on stage; had a trifle thin voice; didn’t like spending money; had no imagination; devoted anxious care to his figure, etc.

Michael was a pedant, stern, and meticulously thorough in fulfilling all the formal requirements. Michael didn’t like spending money; neither had he ever given on credit. He devoted anxious care to his figure. He never ate a fattening thing and never forgot his exercises. I suppose he was the perfect man to run a theatre. He knew what Julia was capable of, and, familiar with her every inflection, every glance of her wonderful eyes, every graceful movement of her body, he was able to give her suggestions out of which she managed to build up the best performance of her career. With the cast he was at once conciliatory and exacting. When tempers were frayed his good humour, his real kindliness, smoothed things over.

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.

That’s happened because his parents were wealthy and famous (they had all the necessary money for his studies).

Eton College provides a full boarding education for about 1,300 boys aged 13–18, with balanced emphases on high academic standards, strong pastoral support and liberal choice within a wide range of high-quality sporting and cultural activities. Access is open, competitive and meritocratic, and selection is based on all-round qualities rather than purely academic criteria. Every boy has an individual study-bedroom within a strong house community of about 50, guided by a resident house master and dame, and each boy also has a tutor who encourages his intellectual and personal development. Its Learning Centre supports those with dyslexia or other special needs. Within a broad and flexible curriculum, boys study for GCSE and IGCSE, AS- and A-levels, and Pre-U examinations in modern languages and music. The success rate for entry to Oxford, Cambridge, and other leading UK and US universities is very high.

Almost all boys now take pre-assessment at age 11 (the registration deadline is 10 years and 6 months), which involves a reasoning test, an interview and a school report. Conditional places are offered for entry at 13, subject to qualification through Common Entrance or our King’s Scholarship examination. Boys entering from the state sector in Year 9 take an exam based on the National Curriculum. There are also music scholarships. Entry can be gained through those scholarships in Year 8 without an earlier conditional place; they carry an automatic fee discount of 10%, but this can be supplemented up to 100%, according to need. We also award scholarships at age 13 and age 16 to bright boys from maintained schools, funding them through five years and two years at Eton respectively. A wide range of bursary support is also available for boys with Conditional Places, subject to a detailed financial assessment.

Beyond the schoolroom, Eton has outstanding facilities for music, art, design and drama, and our wide-ranging sports provision now includes the Thames Valley Athletics Stadium, which we share with outside clubs and organisations, and our rowing lake at Dorney, which was the venue for the 2006 World Championships and will host the 2012 Olympics. Combined Cadet Force and social service activity is strong, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme is growing, and more than 200 speakers address society meetings each year.

VI. Give a summary of chapters 7-10.

When the First World War broke out, Michael was sent to the army. Julia didn’t want to leave him, but he insisted on her staying in London. He was sure, that Julia shouldn’t let people forget her, as an actress. She continued to play and finally she became well known as the best actress of younger generation. Her glory became so strong that it was possible for her to dare to leave the stage for some months and to give birth to a child. Shortly before the war ended she suddenly understood she had fallen out of love with Michael. After 1 World War, they inherited some money from Michael's parents and they decided to set out their own theater. The financial supporter was "the rich old woman" Dolly de Friz who had been the fan of Julia’s' talent since she was in Jimmy's troupe. Julia advised Michael to be an administrator in spite of his still playing at the stage, and it turns out to be the best decision. Remembering the past, Julia felt some kind of sadness for her love died. The only thing she had - was the art and everyday performances. Later she received flowers and a note from her fan Tom Fennel.