Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

Франк Илья

пожилую даму: «старушку»)," said Julia gaily (сказала Джулия весело).

She only half believed (она только наполовину верила) all she had been saying

(всему тому, что она говорила), but it excited her (но ее волновало эта

/возможность/) to discuss a plan (обсуждать план) that would bring her into a

close and constant relation with Michael (который приведет ее к постоянным и

близким отношениям с Майклом). But he was being very serious (но он был

очень серьезен).

thousand ['TaVz(q)nd] manufacturer ["mxnjV'fxktS(q)rq]

Мультиязыковой

проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

105

reputation ["repjV'teIS(q)n] serious ['sI(q)rIqs]

The money was the difficulty. They discussed how much was the least they

could start on. Michael thought five thousand pounds was the minimum. But

how in heaven's name could they raise a sum like that? Of course some of

those Middlepool manufacturers were rolling in money, but you could hardly

expect them to fork out five thousand pounds to start a couple of young actors

who had only a local reputation. Besides, they were jealous of London.

"You'll have to find your rich old woman," said Julia gaily.

She only half believed all she had been saying, but it excited her to discuss a

plan that would bring her into a close and constant relation with Michael. But

he was being very serious.

"I don't believe (я не верю) one could hope to make a success in London (что кто-

то может надеяться добиться успеха в Лондоне) unless one were pretty well

known already (до тех пор, пока он не станет уже хорошо известным). The

thing to do (что мы должны сделать) would be to act there (так это играть там)

in other managements (у других импресарио) for three or four years first (три

или четыре года для начала); one's got to know the ropes (надо будет узнать все

ходы и выходы; to know the ropes — быть искушенным в чем-либо; rope —

канат, веревка; методы, приемы работы). And the advantage of that would be

(и положительным моментом: «преимуществом» будет то) that one would

have had time to read plays (что будет время читать пьесы). It would be madness

(было бы сумасшествием) to start in management (начинать свой театр) unless

one had at least three plays (если не иметь по крайней мере три

пьесы). One of

them out to be a winner (одна из них обязательно будет успешной:

«победителем»)."

success [sqk'ses] advantage [qd'vQ:ntIdZ] madness ['mxdnIs]

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

106

"I don't believe one could hope to make a success in London unless one were

pretty well known already. The thing to do would be to act there in other

managements for three or four years first; one's got to know the ropes. And

the advantage of that would be that one would have had time to read plays. It

would be madness to start in management unless one had at least three plays.

One of them out to be a winner."

"Of course if one did that (конечно, если сделать это), one ought to make a point

of acting together (то следует и особенно подчеркнуть важность того, что мы

играем вместе; to make a point of — обратить особое внимание,

удостовериться, взять за правило) so that the public got accustomed (так,

чтобы публика привыкла) to seeing the two names on the same bill (видеть два

имени на одной афише; bill — счет, документ, программа, плакат)."

"I don't know (я не думаю) that there's much in that (что это так важно). The

great thing is (самое лучшее, так это) to have good, strong parts (иметь

хорошие, сильные роли). There's no doubt in my mind (я ни на минуту не

сомневаюсь: «нет сомнения в моих мыслях») that it would be much easier to

find backers (что будет гораздо легче найти тех, кто тебя поддержит

деньгами: «кто поставит на тебя»; to back — поддерживать, подкреплять,

субсидировать, финансировать) if one had made a bit of a reputation in London

(если заработать хоть чуточку репутации в Лондоне)."