Vocabulary and speech exercises

I. Read the following and either agree or disagree with the statements. (See the Reminder.):

1. The house is the part of the theatre where the members of the orchestra usually sit. 2. An auditorium is a building or a part of a building in which the audience sit. 3. The audience include both spectators and actors. 4. When the audience is pleased it keeps silent. 5. We say “the house is full” when not all the seats in the auditorium are occupied. 6. The pit is nearer to the stage than the stalls. 7. You prefer seats in the gallery, don't you? 8. Wings are the sides of a stage with the scenery. 9. You wouldn't like to go behind the stage, I believe. 10. The cheapest seats are in the boxes. 11. The most expensive seats are in the orchestra stalls. 12. Students always buy seats in the orchestra stalls. 13. By the cast of the play we mean all the actors belonging to the theatrical company. 14. The role of the producer is not very important. 15. You don't know who Stanislavsky was, I believe. 16. It doesn't take many people to produce a play. 17. I believe you clap to show your appreciation of the acting or the play as a whole.

Reminder. Beyond all doubt. I should think so. I won't deny it. Most likely. I disagree with you. On the contrary. You are wrong. Just the other way round. Not me! By no means.

II. Choose the right word.

A. production, performance

1. I enjoyed the Gorky Theatre's ... of “The Prince” (by Arthur Miller) much more than the London one. 2. I've seen that ... several times, and I think tonight's ... was the best. 3. Judi Dench gives a brilliant ... as Beatrice (in Much Ado about Nothing) but the ... as a whole is very second-rate.

B. acting, play

1. What did you think of the ... ? 2. I didn't like the ... but I was very impressed with the ... .

C. part, role, lines

1. The ... of Lady Bracknell was played by Edith Evans. 2. He forgot his ... in the middle of the second act and had to be prompted. 3. Eric Porker plays the main ...

D. stage, scene

1. In the first ... the family are preparing to welcome the youngest son home. 2. There was no change of ... during the play. 3. Then her husband appeared on the ... . 4. Then her husband came onto the ... . 5. It's an interesting play. I'd like to see it on the ... .

III. Paraphrase the following sentences.

1. I'm very interested in the theatre. 2. There are several musicals running in London at the moment. 3. The company has added several new productions to its repertoire. 4. John Dexter has directed several plays by Arnold Wesker at the Royal Court. 5. Eric Porter plays the lead. 6. It's an all-star cast tonight.7. I didn't like the set for the first act.8. Straight plays do not usually run as long as farces and musicals.9. They played every night to full houses. 10. There was a laugh from the back of the house. 11. It's a very interesting production but too unusual to be a box-office success. 12. They put on a musical of “Jane Eyre” but it was a flop. 13. Pinter's new play was given a cool reception both by the public and the critics.

IV. Give synonyms for:

intermission; repertory; theatre-goer; audience; thinking part; aisle; flop; playwright; stage adaptation; final rehearsal; first night; decor; drop the curtain; bring the audience to their feet; take a call; get the bird; sit on one's hands; get over the footlights; appear before the footlights; produce a play; be on; smell of the footlights; The House is sold out; be at one's best off-stage; appear; go on the boards; walk the boards; house; bad box-office.

V. Give antonyms for:

bad box office; flop; flaw; artificial; leave smb. cold; die standing up; applaud; be well received, thinking part.

VI. Insert the suitable words from the active vocabulary.

1. She has devoted her life to the ... .2. David is arranging a ... ... .3. “Oliver” had a long and successful ... in the West End. 4. The company is ... ... , so the theatre is closed. 5. Their ... includes both classics and modern plays. 6. I saw that production, but with a different ... . 7. He spoke his ... too fast. 8. The... ... was ill, so the performance had to be postponed. 9. The ... where John says goodbye to Susan is very moving. 10. The ... was rather unresponsive.

VII. Supply the suitable words.

A person who

makes up actors for performance helps the actors on the stage by prompting the words of the script makes sketches and designs of the sets for the play superintends the production of a play works on the stage changing or making the sets for a particular play or scene learns the part of an actor so that he can take the part in case the actor is absent is engaged to perform a very small part, often without words

is called...

VIII. Finish these sentences.

I could not attend the last rehearsal I'm sure she won't be able to cope with the part of Ophelia I like to have seats very close to the stage They had to make a new revival of this play This production must be transferred to the branch stage of the theatre The actors did not know their lines properly They had to change their repertoire very often This performance failed to attract the public's attention I could hardly see or hear anything

as...

IX. Make up sentences supplying their beginnings

This production His rendering of the role The part of ...

lacks

vivacity individuality. vitality. seriousness. depth. ingenuity. attractiveness. mastery. artistic skill. easiness. professionalism. genuine inspiration.