Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

Франк Илья

ли, дорогая, вы сможете сказать мне, хорош ли он в постели)."

numerous ['nju:m(q)rqs] consternation ["kOnstq'neIS(q)n]

stepmother ['step"mADq]

"Oh, don't talk such rot," she answered. "It's grand work if you can get it."

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи

Франка www.franklang.ru

752

Ellean's son had been one of Mrs. Marten's numerous lovers just as Ellean's

husband had been one of Paula Tanqueray's. When Robert Humphreys brought his

wife down to his home in the country and this fact was discovered, they decided

that Honor must be informed. To their consternation Honor did not turn a hair. She

knew already.

"I was as pleased as Punch when I found out," she told her stepmother. "You see,

darling, you can tell me if he's all right in bed."

This was Avice Crichton's best scene (это была самая лучшая сцена Эвис

Крайтон), it lasted a full ten minutes (она длилась целых десять минут), and

Michael had realized from the beginning that it was effective and important (и

Майкл понял с самого начала, что она была очень действенной и важной).

Avice's cold, matter-of-fact prettiness (холодная, прозаичная миловидность

Эвис) had been exactly what he had thought would be so telling in the

circumstances (была именно тем, что /как/ он думал, будет таким эффектным

при данных обстоятельствах). But after half a dozen rehearsals (но, после с

полдюжины репетиций) he began to think that that was all she had to give (он

начал думать, что это /ее внешность/ было все, на что она была способна:

«что она могла дать»). He talked it over with Julia (он обговорил это с

Джулией).

"How d'you think Avice is shaping (как тебе кажется, у Эвис получается; to

shape — придавать/принимать форму, выходить, формироваться)?"

"It's early days to tell yet (еще рано: «ранние дни» что-нибудь говорить)."

"I'm not happy about her (я не очень ей доволен; happy — счастливый,

благоприятный, веселый). You said she could act (ты сказала, что она может

играть). I've seen no sign of it yet (я не видел еще ни единого признака этого)."

"It's a cast-iron part (это готовая роль; cast-iron — чугунный, твердый,

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)."

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

753

"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