2. Read and translate the text: at the theatre

I’ll never forget my first visit to the Bolshoi Theatre when I was in Moscow.

My friend bought in advance two tickets for a matinee performance of the ballet “Swan Lake” by Chaikovsky. We arrived at the theatre long before the performance began, for there were three of us and we were one ticket short.

A notice on the box-office of the theatre said: “Sold out”. So we stood at the entrance asking people as they were going in if they had a spare ticket. At last we bought a ticket from a man who had booked two seats but whose friend hadn’t turned up. We left our coats in the cloak-room and I get a programme from the usher to see what the cast was.

When we arrived at the hall we saw many people walking down the gangway looking for their seats. The musicians in the orchestra were tuning their instruments. We found our seats, which were in the stalls, and went to look over the theatre. My friend showed me the boxes, the pit, the dress-circle, gallery and balconies. At twelve sharp the lights went out. The conductor appeared and the overture began.

After the overture the curtain went up. I was in raptures at what I saw on the stage. I had never seen anything more wonderful. The setting and the dancing were superb. The ballet seemed to me a fairy-tale. When the curtain fell the house burst into applause. I applauded (clapped) so much that my hands ached.

During the first interval we went to the refreshment room (buffet). When the last curtain fell cries of “encore” sounded all over the theatre. The dancers received call after call and were presented with large bouquets of flowers.

The performance was a great success. My first visit to the Bolshoi Theatre is one of the most pleasant memories I brought away from Moscow.

3. Answer the following questions:

1) What theatre is considered the best in your town?

2) What kinds of plays are there on the repertoire?

3) Is the standard of its production high?

4) Is it possible to pick up a ticket at the entrance if you couldn’t book it at the box-office?

5) Is there any difference in the price of tickets for morning or evening performances?

6) Which seats are most expensive?

7) Would you care to go to the Opera House or to the Play House?

8) Would you rather go to a symphony concert or to a music-hall show?

9) Do you mind having a seat on the balcony or in the gallery?

10) What plays by English or American playwrights have been staged in your town lately?

4. Fill in the blanks with the necessary words in brackets:

1) If you are fond of music you must go to the … . (cloak-room, Opera-House, box-office)

2) We bought in advance two … for a matinee performance. (opera-glasses, theatre-programmes, tickets)

3) The musicians in the orchestra were tuning their … . (instruments, composers, conductors)

4) The … are over at about eleven o’clock. (roles, tickets, performances)

5) When … fell the house burst into applause. (theatre, curtain, balcony)