Pantomime 閱讀練習與講義
Pantomime
Pantomimes like pageants, need to be very well planned, and it is essential that initial organization should begin many weeks in advance of the production date. Pantomimes are nearly always divided into separate scenes, very often taking place in different countries or even in different centuries. It is therefore necessary that there should be an overall unity of design culminating in the grand finale. This latter is really just an excuse for visual effects, and for once the performers become merely cloths hangers on which to put elaborate garments.
The scene should be discussed at some length with the producer so that the background, which is decided upon, does not present impossibilities for the provision of costumes within the budget or insuperable making problems for the wardrobe. Because of the large numbers of costumes needed full use must be made of the cheapest materials available, such as tarlatan nets and inexpensive cottons and taffetas. Very often it is possible to pick up goods that have been substantially reduced in price as cheap lines either in the big stores or on stalls in street markets.
Costumes for pantomimes need to be imaginative, gay and fairly bold in conceptionthis does not mean that they need to be garish. Usually in one scene there needs to be the flavor of what is newest at the moment in clothes. It is always a good idea to make use of a modern gimmick and to point it in some way if this can be conveniently fitted into the scheme. The audience comes to pantomime to have the eye feasted as much as for any other purpose, thus making a great chance for the designer to excel. Because of the very varied audience to be catered for there must be costumes to please patrons of all ages and delight the eyes of toddlers, teenagers, parents and grandparents.
Usually there is the chance for some country scene involving merry-making peasants in ginghams, stripes of chintzes. There may be a military or naval routine or some number emphasizing precision and calling for trim slick costumes. There is certain to be a ballet which is to look fairy-like or romantic and pretty and which may well need either classical or romantic tutus. The finale, which must be the most spectacular of all, is often set in a ballroom or palace where all the characters come together to make their final bows; and it is for this scene that the glitter of sequins and jewels, the sparkle of tinsel, the gold and silver materials and the waving plumes should be saved.
It may be helpful to examine the different characters and the various scenes in which they are likely to appear. They remain much the same in all pantomimes; the flavor varying according to the settingso that a sdash of the Orient, or the particular feeling of a historical epoch is added to the standard costume.
1. Which word can best describe the final scene in pantomime?
[A]. Spectacular. [B]. Beautiful. [C]. Romantic. [D]. Sparkling.
2. What is the best title for this passage?
[A]. How to Gain Success of a Pantomime.
[B]. The Most Important Factors in a Pantomime.
[C]. Pantomime needs to have a very-well.
[D]. How to Make Preparation for a Pantomime.
3. What does paragraph two imply?
[A]. It implies actor and actress outnumber costume.
[B]. It implies costume costs too much.
[C]. It implies the funds available is on meager side.
[D]. It implies a good plan is necessary for a pantomime.
4. The success of a pantomime lie in
[A]. well-planned preparation. [B]. excellent actors.
[C]. brilliant costume. [D]. harmony.
Vocabulary
1. culminate 達到頂點，達到最高潮
2. insuperable 不可逾越的，不可克服的
3. tarlatan 薄紗，塔拉丹
4. taffeta 花花綠綠的塔夫綢，襯綢
5. gimmick (魔術(shù)師道具等)暗機關(guān)，
6. garish 裝飾(物) 鮮艷奪目的，俗不可耐的
7. gingham 方格花布
8. stripe 條紋布，斜紋布
9. chintz 擦光印花棉布
10. slick 光滑的，打扮漂亮的，華而不實的，討人喜歡的
11. tutu (芭蕾舞女演員)短裙
12. sequin 裝飾服裝用的圓形小金屬片
13. tinsel 金銀絲織品，閃亮裝飾品
難句譯注
1. This latter is really just an excuse for visual effects, and for once the performers become merely cloths hangers on which to put elaborate garments.
[結(jié)構(gòu)簡析] for once= for just once 就這一次
[參考譯文] 后者確實就是為了視覺效果，就這一次，演員成了僅僅是套上精致衣服的衣架子。
2. Usually in one scene there needs to be the flavor of what is newest at the moment in clothes. It is always a good idea to make use of a modern gimmick and to point it in some way if this can be conveniently fitted into the scheme.
[結(jié)構(gòu)簡析] 兩句句子。To make use of 利用，to point 強調(diào)。
[參考譯文] 一般說來，在一幕里，需要有當時服裝上最新款式和風格。如果便于和演出設(shè)計相吻合的話，利用當時的機關(guān)并給以適當突出也不失為好辦法。
3. The audience comes to pantomime to have the eye feasted as much as for any other purpose, thus making a great chance for the designer to excel。
[結(jié)構(gòu)簡析] 注意后面thus making的譯法。
[參考譯文] 觀眾來看啞劇，不僅為了大飽眼福，還有其它目的。這就給了設(shè)計者展示才能超越別人的大好機會。
寫作方法與文章大意
這是一篇論述啞劇準備工作的文章。文章一開始就點明主題。然后從錢，劇幕，服裝，色彩，情趣等方面加以闡明，手法多種。
答案祥解
1. A. 最后一幕非常壯觀。文章內(nèi)兩處提到，第一段第二句啞劇幾乎總是分成獨立的幾幕，常常是發(fā)生在不同的國家和不同的世紀，因此，在宏偉的最后一幕有一個達到高潮完整統(tǒng)一設(shè)計。第四段第四行末尾最后一幕，必須是全戲最壯觀的，地點常常是在舞廳或者皇宮，聚集著所有的演員，以備謝幕。
B. 美麗的。 C. 浪漫的。 D. 燦爛的，都只是壯觀中之一部分。
2. D. 如何為啞劇做好準備工作。文章一開始啞劇，像露天演出劇一樣，需要很好策劃，應在演出前好幾個星期作好最初的組織工作。后面幾段都是圍繞這一中心而寫。
A. 如何獲取啞劇的成功，文中提得很少但準備的目的是獲得成功。 B. 啞劇的最重要的因素。 C. 啞劇需要一個很好的設(shè)計，都是準備工作中提及的部分內(nèi)容。
3. C. 隱射能得到的資金很少。第二段劇幕場景應和舞臺監(jiān)督進行詳細的討論。這樣決定下來的場景不會出現(xiàn)預算內(nèi)金額不能提供服裝，或劇團服裝難以供應的問題。由于需要劇裝量大，要充分利用能得到的最便宜的材料，類似薄紗，低價棉布和襯綢之類。可以在大商店或馬路地攤上選購一些降價的便宜貨品。這一段說明他們的資金相當少，所以C 正確。
A. 演員認輸超過了服裝數(shù)。 B. 服裝太貴，文中都沒有提到。也不是第二段的內(nèi)涵。 D. 啞劇需要一個好計劃。一開始就點明，不用隱射。
4. A. 充分計劃好的準備工作。如果沒有計劃，其他三點都談不上。因為
B. 優(yōu)秀演員。 C. 華麗的戲裝。 D. 和諧，都四計劃內(nèi)考慮的因素。
Pantomime
Pantomimes like pageants, need to be very well planned, and it is essential that initial organization should begin many weeks in advance of the production date. Pantomimes are nearly always divided into separate scenes, very often taking place in different countries or even in different centuries. It is therefore necessary that there should be an overall unity of design culminating in the grand finale. This latter is really just an excuse for visual effects, and for once the performers become merely cloths hangers on which to put elaborate garments.
The scene should be discussed at some length with the producer so that the background, which is decided upon, does not present impossibilities for the provision of costumes within the budget or insuperable making problems for the wardrobe. Because of the large numbers of costumes needed full use must be made of the cheapest materials available, such as tarlatan nets and inexpensive cottons and taffetas. Very often it is possible to pick up goods that have been substantially reduced in price as cheap lines either in the big stores or on stalls in street markets.
Costumes for pantomimes need to be imaginative, gay and fairly bold in conceptionthis does not mean that they need to be garish. Usually in one scene there needs to be the flavor of what is newest at the moment in clothes. It is always a good idea to make use of a modern gimmick and to point it in some way if this can be conveniently fitted into the scheme. The audience comes to pantomime to have the eye feasted as much as for any other purpose, thus making a great chance for the designer to excel. Because of the very varied audience to be catered for there must be costumes to please patrons of all ages and delight the eyes of toddlers, teenagers, parents and grandparents.
Usually there is the chance for some country scene involving merry-making peasants in ginghams, stripes of chintzes. There may be a military or naval routine or some number emphasizing precision and calling for trim slick costumes. There is certain to be a ballet which is to look fairy-like or romantic and pretty and which may well need either classical or romantic tutus. The finale, which must be the most spectacular of all, is often set in a ballroom or palace where all the characters come together to make their final bows; and it is for this scene that the glitter of sequins and jewels, the sparkle of tinsel, the gold and silver materials and the waving plumes should be saved.
It may be helpful to examine the different characters and the various scenes in which they are likely to appear. They remain much the same in all pantomimes; the flavor varying according to the settingso that a sdash of the Orient, or the particular feeling of a historical epoch is added to the standard costume.
1. Which word can best describe the final scene in pantomime?
[A]. Spectacular. [B]. Beautiful. [C]. Romantic. [D]. Sparkling.
2. What is the best title for this passage?
[A]. How to Gain Success of a Pantomime.
[B]. The Most Important Factors in a Pantomime.
[C]. Pantomime needs to have a very-well.
[D]. How to Make Preparation for a Pantomime.
3. What does paragraph two imply?
[A]. It implies actor and actress outnumber costume.
[B]. It implies costume costs too much.
[C]. It implies the funds available is on meager side.
[D]. It implies a good plan is necessary for a pantomime.
4. The success of a pantomime lie in
[A]. well-planned preparation. [B]. excellent actors.
[C]. brilliant costume. [D]. harmony.
Vocabulary
1. culminate 達到頂點，達到最高潮
2. insuperable 不可逾越的，不可克服的
3. tarlatan 薄紗，塔拉丹
4. taffeta 花花綠綠的塔夫綢，襯綢
5. gimmick (魔術(shù)師道具等)暗機關(guān)，
6. garish 裝飾(物) 鮮艷奪目的，俗不可耐的
7. gingham 方格花布
8. stripe 條紋布，斜紋布
9. chintz 擦光印花棉布
10. slick 光滑的，打扮漂亮的，華而不實的，討人喜歡的
11. tutu (芭蕾舞女演員)短裙
12. sequin 裝飾服裝用的圓形小金屬片
13. tinsel 金銀絲織品，閃亮裝飾品
難句譯注
1. This latter is really just an excuse for visual effects, and for once the performers become merely cloths hangers on which to put elaborate garments.
[結(jié)構(gòu)簡析] for once= for just once 就這一次
[參考譯文] 后者確實就是為了視覺效果，就這一次，演員成了僅僅是套上精致衣服的衣架子。
2. Usually in one scene there needs to be the flavor of what is newest at the moment in clothes. It is always a good idea to make use of a modern gimmick and to point it in some way if this can be conveniently fitted into the scheme.
[結(jié)構(gòu)簡析] 兩句句子。To make use of 利用，to point 強調(diào)。
[參考譯文] 一般說來，在一幕里，需要有當時服裝上最新款式和風格。如果便于和演出設(shè)計相吻合的話，利用當時的機關(guān)并給以適當突出也不失為好辦法。
3. The audience comes to pantomime to have the eye feasted as much as for any other purpose, thus making a great chance for the designer to excel。
[結(jié)構(gòu)簡析] 注意后面thus making的譯法。
[參考譯文] 觀眾來看啞劇，不僅為了大飽眼福，還有其它目的。這就給了設(shè)計者展示才能超越別人的大好機會。
寫作方法與文章大意
這是一篇論述啞劇準備工作的文章。文章一開始就點明主題。然后從錢，劇幕，服裝，色彩，情趣等方面加以闡明，手法多種。
答案祥解
1. A. 最后一幕非常壯觀。文章內(nèi)兩處提到，第一段第二句啞劇幾乎總是分成獨立的幾幕，常常是發(fā)生在不同的國家和不同的世紀，因此，在宏偉的最后一幕有一個達到高潮完整統(tǒng)一設(shè)計。第四段第四行末尾最后一幕，必須是全戲最壯觀的，地點常常是在舞廳或者皇宮，聚集著所有的演員，以備謝幕。
B. 美麗的。 C. 浪漫的。 D. 燦爛的，都只是壯觀中之一部分。
2. D. 如何為啞劇做好準備工作。文章一開始啞劇，像露天演出劇一樣，需要很好策劃，應在演出前好幾個星期作好最初的組織工作。后面幾段都是圍繞這一中心而寫。
A. 如何獲取啞劇的成功，文中提得很少但準備的目的是獲得成功。 B. 啞劇的最重要的因素。 C. 啞劇需要一個很好的設(shè)計，都是準備工作中提及的部分內(nèi)容。
3. C. 隱射能得到的資金很少。第二段劇幕場景應和舞臺監(jiān)督進行詳細的討論。這樣決定下來的場景不會出現(xiàn)預算內(nèi)金額不能提供服裝，或劇團服裝難以供應的問題。由于需要劇裝量大，要充分利用能得到的最便宜的材料，類似薄紗，低價棉布和襯綢之類?？梢栽诖笊痰昊蝰R路地攤上選購一些降價的便宜貨品。這一段說明他們的資金相當少，所以C 正確。
A. 演員認輸超過了服裝數(shù)。 B. 服裝太貴，文中都沒有提到。也不是第二段的內(nèi)涵。 D. 啞劇需要一個好計劃。一開始就點明，不用隱射。
4. A. 充分計劃好的準備工作。如果沒有計劃，其他三點都談不上。因為
B. 優(yōu)秀演員。 C. 華麗的戲裝。 D. 和諧，都四計劃內(nèi)考慮的因素。
