Theatre by W.S. Maugham

Chapters 7-10

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

Placidity - спокойный

to make frantic scenes - закатывать безумные сцены

to give sb. a look of scorn - бросить презрительный взгляд на кого-либо

lavishness - щедрость

to know how to pull strings adroitly - знать, как пустить в ход связи

to fall out of love - разлюбить

close-cropped hair - коротко стриженный

to resist an inclination - удержаться от чего-то

weather-beaten skin - обветренная кожа

coltish grace - щенячья грация

to be on active service - быть в действующей армии

confinement - роды

to run a theatre - открыть театр

effusive - несдержанный

virile air – зрелый вид

to set one's mind to smth - стремиться к чему-либо

disconcerting - смущающий

it's a knock out - сногсшибательно

amiability - добродушие

affable manner - дружеское обращение

to exercise great ingenuity in (doing) smth - проявить великую изобретательность в чем-то

to be unperturbed - быть невозмутимым

shrewdness - проницательность

to grizzle - возмущаться, раздражать

it's a mere commonplace - это банально

exorbitant - непомерный

to be conciliatory - дружелюбный

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 интриги

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 were both acting when war broke out.

2. Why do you think Michael enjoyed the war?

“Michael thoroughly enjoyed the war. He was popular in the regimental mess, and the officers of the old army accepted him almost at once, even though he was an actor, as one of themselves.”

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?

I think, love is very important for a successful family life. Of course, every person has its own opinion on this problem.

4. How did it happen that Julia fell out of love with Michael?

It was just before the end of the war that she fell out of love with him. She was pregnant at the time. She realized that he no longer smelt like a young, he smelt like a man.

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?

At first, they wanted to find a rich man, who fell in love with Julia or a rich old woman, who loved Michael and set them up in management. Finally the money was found by a rich woman, and not an old one either, but who was interested not in him but in Julia. She was Mrs. de Vries. She was a widow and she was in the partnership with Michael and Julia. They decided to call the theatre “The Siddons theatre”.

6. Why was Julia against Michael's taking up directing?

Julia was doubtful. “He 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?

He made a much better job of it than Julia expected. “He was thorough; he worked hard. Julia, strangely enough, felt that he was getting more out of her than any other director had done”.

8. What irritated Julia in Michael more and more? How did he change in Julia's eyes?

“His thrift, which in the early days had seemed an amusing, rather touching trait, now revolted her. When people were in trouble, and on the stage they too often are, they got sympathy and kind friendly words from Michael, but very little cash. He looked upon himself as devilish generous when he parted with a guinea, and a five‑pound note was to him the extreme of lavishness. He had soon discovered that Julia ran the house extravagantly, and insisting that he wanted to save her trouble took the matter in his own hands. After that nothing was wasted. Every penny was accounted for. Julia wondered why servants stayed with them”.

9. Why was Julia sad when she thought of her married life?

Julia realized that she fell out of love with Michael. His behavior, manners, thought and even his appearance began to irritate her. She had never thought that such thing could happen with her.

10. Why was Michael happier than he had been before?

Julia was much easier to get on with, she never made scenes any more, so he was happier than he had ever been before.

11. Julia's dresser and maid was a Cockney, wasn't she? Please prove it using the examples from the text.

“Evie was Julia's dresser and maid. She had come to her first at Middlepool and had accompanied her to London. She was a cockney, a thin, raddled, angular woman, with red hair which was always untidy and looked as if it much needed washing, two of her front teeth were missing but, notwithstanding Julia's offer, repeated for years, to provide her with new ones she would not have them replaced”.

12. Who was the unknown man who sent flowers to Julia? Why did she write him a thank you note?

“Lord Charles Tamerley was the oldest and the most constant of Julia's admirers, and when he passed a florist's he was very apt to drop in and order some roses for her”. “She was naturally polite and it was a principle with her to answer all fan letters”.

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

- a good‑humoured smile on his handsome face

- the handsomest man in England

- a tailor's dummy

- the ordinary normal Englishman

- with his gentlemanly push, with his breezy good‑nature

- his thriftiness

- He had tact and a pleasant manner

- He showed himself possessed of considerable organizing capacity

- He came, looking wonderfully handsome in his well‑cut uniform, with the red tabs and the crown on his shoulder‑straps. He had filled out a good deal as the result of the hardships of G.H.Q. and his skin was tanned. With his close‑cropped hair, breezy manner and military carriage he looked every inch a soldier.

- he was only thirty‑six, but he was not a boy any more; with his close‑cropped hair and weather‑beaten skin, little lines beginning to mark the smoothness of his forehead and to show under his eyes, he was definitely a man. He had lost his coltish grace and his movements were set. He was a middle‑aged man.

- He was a well set‑up, normal, high‑spirited fellow, with a ready smile and a hearty laugh. He was well suited to drawing‑room comedy. His light voice gave a peculiar effect to a flippant line, and though he never managed to make love convincingly he could carry off a chaffing love scene, making a proposal as if it were rather a joke, or a declaration as though he were laughing at himself.

To my mind, Michael was the perfect man to run a theatre. He was pedant and stern. Michael didn’t spend much money, neither had he ever given on credit. Such kind of men could be successful in this business. Also I think, he was an ideal husband because this man was so devoted to his wife.

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.

Eton is a very prestigious school for boys. Every celebrity and famous people who want their child has quality education have to apply within a week of his birth. It’s a tradition of Eton.

Public Schools
A public school is an independent secondary school. Public schools in England are not run by the government. The entrance exams used by most public schools are known as Common Entrance exams and are taken at the age of 11 (girls) or 13 (boys).

The most famous public schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester.

Eton is one of nine English independent schools, commonly referred to as "public schools", included in the original Public Schools Act 1868. Following the public school tradition, Eton is a full boarding school, which means all pupils live at the school, and is one of four such remaining single-sex boys' public schools in the United Kingdom to continue this practice. It has educated nineteen British Prime Ministers and generations of aristocracy, and has been referred to as the chief nurse of England's statesmen.

VI. Give a summary of chapters 7-10.

Julia was happy the first year of her marriage. But soon the war broke out. Michael became a soldier and he improved Julia to stay in the theatre. It was just before the end of the war that she fell out of love with him. Julia was pregnant at the time. When Michael came back they tried to find money to open their own theatre. Mrs. de Vries became their partnership and Michael was a director of this theatre. Julia was a famous actress and some fans appeared in her life. One of them was Lord Charles Tamerley.