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儿童英语读物 The Mystery on Stage CHAPTER 2 Auditions

时间:2017-08-09 05:35来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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The day of the auditions1 was clear and cold. Jessie woke up feeling so nervous she could barely fasten the buttons on her polka-dot blouse. Violet came to her rescue.

“Jessie, it’s not like you to be so jumpy. You’re going to be fine,” Violet assured her sister.

Jessie sighed. “I hope so. I think I’ll feel better once we’re there.”

Alice dropped Soo Lee off at the Aldens’ just as they were finishing their breakfast. “Good luck, Jessie,” she called. “I wish I could come to the auditions, too, but I told Joe I’d help him paint the porch steps.”

As they were ready to leave, Mrs. McGregor came out of the kitchen to give Jessie a hug. “I’ll be rooting for you,” she said. Watch barked and thumped3 his tail on the floor. “And, as you can see, so will Watch.”

Jessie managed a smile.

“Break a leg, Jessie,” Grandfather called from his armchair as the children headed out the door.

“Grandfather, what do you mean?” Benny gave his grandfather a puzzled look.

“Don’t worry, Benny. ‘Break a leg’ is just another way of saying good luck. Actors often use that expression.” Grandfather waved good-bye.

The Community Playhouse theater was a fifteen-minute walk from the house. Soon the children could see the fancy brick building in the distance. A large park encircled the building.

The children crossed the lawn in front of the theater. They passed big flower beds filled with orange and yellow chrysanthemums4, now a little faded from the cold. Stone benches were placed underneath5 tall oak trees.

“It’s pretty here,” Soo Lee said, looking all around her.

Soo Lee had never seen the community park and theater before. She lived with Joe and Alice in a town not far from Greenfield.

“Well, we’re here.” Violet gazed up at the large building. Henry opened the heavy oak door, and the children entered a big lobby. People clutching scripts milled around the room.

A woman was seated behind a long table. She had several long sheets of paper on the table in front of her. “Please sign here for the part you’re trying out for,” she told the children. “The auditions will begin in half an hour in room 222 upstairs.”

“Hey, look,” Benny nudged Violet. “Why is that man in a costume already?”

Indeed, a man with a tin helmet covering his head headed up the stairs. He wore a metal barrel around his body and silver tights on his legs and arms.

“I don’t know,” Violet answered. “But that’s a wonderful costume for the Tinman. Maybe he feels it will bring him luck.”

Jessie passed the sign-up sheets to Henry who wrote his name under scenery and lighting6. Violet signed up to help with costumes.

Soo Lee added her name under scenery and passed the sheet to Benny. Benny was so busy looking at the Tinman’s costume, he didn’t pay any attention to the sign-up sheet — or to where he was going.

“Ouch, that’s my foot you just stepped on!” a girl cried out angrily. The girl had wavy7 auburn hair pulled off her face with a shiny gold barrette. She wore long dangly8 earrings9, a pink silk shirt, and very strong lemon-scented perfume. She looked about Jessie’s age. Before Benny could apologize, she hurried away.

“Mother, that little boy just stepped on my foot,” the girl spoke10 loudly to an older woman with short blonde hair. “Thanks to him, one of my new shoes is all dirty.” She held out her leg to show a smudged pink suede11 shoe. Several people turned around to look. Benny felt his face turn bright red.

“Oh, Melody, I can buy you new shoes in the same color,” the girl’s mother answered. She glared in Benny’s direction, then took Melody by the arm and went up the stairs.

“I tried to say I was sorry,” Benny whispered to Jessie, “but she walked away too fast.”

“Don’t worry, Benny.” Jessie patted her brother on the arm. “I’m sure you didn’t mean to step on her foot.”

The Aldens and Soo Lee followed the others up the winding12 staircase. They walked down the hall to a big room with floor-to-ceiling windows.

A thin man with blond hair sat in the center of a circle. People holding scripts were seated around him reading their lines.

“Look, they’ve already started,” Benny whispered loudly to Jessie.

“No they haven’t, they’re just practicing,” said a tall, brown-haired woman who introduced herself as Nancy Wu, the stage manager. She held all the sign-up sheets in one hand. “Would those trying out for Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion please come around this table,” she announced.

“Why are they auditioning13 so many parts at once?” Violet asked her sister.

Before Jessie could answer, the blond man stood up and introduced himself as James Maynard, the director. Violet noticed he had big dark circles under his eyes.

“I’m asking all those interested in lead roles to audition2 together,” the director was saying, “because I want to see how well you read with one another. You all know, of course, you may not get the part you try out for. You can’t all be Dorothy,” he said looking at the ten girls clustered around him. “But if you read well, I may assign you another part.”

“I don’t think I’ll accept any other part but Dorothy,” Melody whispered loudly to her mother. She adjusted her gold barrette as she walked with her mother to the director’s table.

“You know, Mr. Maynard, my daughter has been receiving private voice lessons for the past five years,” Melody’s mother explained. “She’s also been taking ballet for her posture14.”

James Maynard ran his hand through his hair and nodded politely. “Please call me Jim,” was all he said.

Jessie seated herself at the long table near Melody. She noticed Sarah coming toward them and waved, but Sarah seemed lost in thought. She didn’t even notice Jessie until she sat down.

“Oh, hello! You’re the one I met outside the bookstore,” Sarah said. She even smiled a little. The man in the tin costume joined them along with several other male and female actors who were all from the town.

“I didn’t know there were so many actors in Greenfield,” Henry said to Violet as he sat down to watch the auditions. The Aldens and Soo Lee made sure they sat very close to the big table so they could hear everything Jessie said.

“I recognize some of them,” Violet answered. “Isn’t that woman over there Mrs. Adams, the librarian?” Violet pointed15 to a tall woman with masses of curly blonde hair who was auditioning for the part of the Good Witch, Glinda.

Henry nodded. “Yes, you’re right.” He sounded a little surprised.

Since so many girls were trying out for Dorothy, the director decided16 to audition only the “Dorothys” first. He had the other actors stand by and watch, along with friends and relatives.

“To play the role of Dorothy, you’ll have to do some dancing and singing,” Jim was saying. “I hope you came prepared with a song to sing for us.” The girls all nodded. The director then picked a scene from the play and asked each girl in turn to read that scene with him.

Two girls Jessie didn’t know read first and second. Jessie didn’t think they did well at all. The director must not have thought so either because he didn’t even ask them to sing.

When it was Melody’s turn, she stood up. She didn’t even use the script. She knew all her lines from memory. She moved her arms, her feet, her whole body. She sang with a beautiful, well-trained voice and when she finished, some people clapped — Melody’s mother loudest of all. Jim smiled a little absentmindedly and motioned to the next girl to continue the scene.

Jessie took a deep breath when the director pointed to her. She read the part where Dorothy first meets the Scarecrow on the Yellow Brick Road. She pretended she was in the strange world of Oz holding her dog, Toto, in her arms.

James Maynard sat in front of Jessie, reading the Scarecrow’s lines. When he moved his hands to brush the hair from his face, Jessie imagined him adjusting his ragged17, pointy black hat, just like in the movie.

When she finished, her family applauded and cheered. Some others joined in. Jim chuckled18. “Thank you, Jessie, that was well done.” Jessie smiled and leaned back in her chair to listen to the others.

When Sarah began to read, the room became very still. After a few lines, Jessie sat spellbound. Sarah made Jessie see Dorothy as she really was — a little girl stranded19 in a strange land with only her dog for company.

For the first time that morning, no one could be heard whispering or rustling20 scripts. When Sarah sang her song, Jessie noticed Melody pouting21. But Jim Maynard’s eyes shone, and for once he sat perfectly22 still.

For a few seconds after Sarah stopped, there was silence. Then everyone began to applaud. Some even stood up and cheered. Sarah looked very pleased until she glanced at her watch. “Oh, no, I didn’t realize how late it was getting,” she muttered softly.

“Oh, do you have to go?” Melody asked, looking pleased.

Sarah turned a little pale. “No, not right away,” she answered.

“Good,” Jim said. He looked at Sarah closely. “I’d like you to stay to read with the other actors. I also want you to do some simple dance steps on stage this afternoon.”

Sarah nodded.

Melody turned her back on Sarah and began whispering to the girl in a white frilly shirt sitting next to her.

“All right, let’s continue,” Jim said briskly.

Jessie barely listened to the other girls’ tryouts. No one could compete with Sarah for the lead, that was sure.

“I don’t see why we have to sit here while you audition all these girls!” An angry man interrupted Jessie’s daydreaming23. “It’s a waste of our time!”

“The auditions for Dorothy are almost finished.” Jim sighed and glanced at his clipboard. He turned in his chair to face the angry man. “We’ll begin the auditions for the other major roles as soon as some of these girls take a short break, Mr. White.”

To Jessie’s surprise, Jim asked her to come back after the break to read with the adults. He invited Sarah, Melody, and two other girls to come, too.

Jessie’s family crowded around her. “Jessie you were great,” Henry said proudly.

“We’re staying for the rest of the auditions,” Benny said. “We want to be here when you get the part.”

“They won’t announce the results until late tomorrow afternoon,” Jessie said, laughing. Mr. Maynard has a lot of people to cast. But I’m glad you’re staying. I should be finished soon.” She hurried back to the table.

The man in the tin costume sat next to Jessie. He introduced himself as Harold Carlton. Of all the adult actors, he was the best by far. The director must have thought so, too, because anytime Harold read, Jim leaned back in his chair and smiled.

The impatient man, Richard White, was reading the lines for the Wizard. He stopped for a moment to mop his forehead with a handkerchief. “It’s too warm in here,” he complained. “Can’t you tell them to turn down the heat?”

“The janitors24 aren’t here today. We can leave a note for them,” Jim answered wearily.

“You must be awfully25 hot with that tin helmet on all the time,” Richard continued, turning to Harold. “Why don’t you take it off?”

“That’s not in the script,” Harold joked.

Jim shrugged26. “A good actor performs even when he’s uncomfortable.”

“I see,” Richard said irritably27. But he continued reading in his loud, booming voice.

“I must admit he’s got the right voice for the Wizard,” Sarah whispered softly to Jessie. “It’s too bad about his personality.”

Jessie giggled28. Sarah smiled back at her, but Jessie noticed she kept looking at her watch. As time passed, Sarah grew more and more fidgety.

When they were in the middle of the scene with the Wicked Witch of the West, the stage manager interrupted.

“Excuse me, Jim, but there’s a phone call for you.”

Jim frowned. “Who is it?” he asked.

“A man,” the stage manager answered. “He wouldn’t give his name, but he said it was important.”

Jim pressed his hands together and sighed. “I’ll be right back,” he told the actors. But he was gone more than fifteen minutes. When he returned, he looked pale.

“That was a crank call,” he said slowly. “Whoever it was told me not to direct this show. If I did, there would be trouble.” Jim nervously29 twirled the pencil in his hands.

The actors all looked up from their scripts. Some seemed puzzled, others scared.

“Oh, it’s probably just a dumb joke,” Jim said, but the others could tell he was worried. “Anyway, let’s continue, shall we?” He sat down in his big chair and took up the script.

Sarah, after another look at her watch and at the clock in the back of the room, stood up. “I really have to go now. May I be excused?”

“Well yes, if you must,” Jim told her. “But I don’t like performers to leave in the middle of a scene. The auditions for the lead roles should be over in another hour, and I did want to see if you can dance.”

Sarah gasped30 and turned pale. “Oh, I can’t stay any longer today. Really I can’t.”

“Why not?” Melody asked loudly.

Sarah didn’t answer. Instead, she bit her lip and looked at the floor. She looked as if she were about to burst into tears.

“All right,” Jim said gently, giving Sarah a puzzled look. “You can go. We may call you back tomorrow.” Sarah nodded, grabbed her purple coat, and rushed out the door.

Everyone else around the table looked at one another.

“I think it’s rude she didn’t even wait for the others to finish,” Melody whispered loudly. The girl in the frilly white shirt nodded.

Jim sighed. “All right, let’s continue, shall we? Melody, why don’t you read Dorothy’s lines.”

Melody tossed her head and began reading. Jessie tried to concentrate on her lines as she read the part of the Cowardly Lion, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Sarah. Though Jessie did not want to admit it, she wondered whether Sarah had anything to do with the mysterious phone call.
 


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 auditions e5157b20249609404011a5fbf4ffb336     
n.(对拟做演员、歌手、乐师等人的)试听,试音( audition的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Find modeling auditions, casting calls& acting auditions, all in one place. 找一个立体感试听,铸造呼叫和表演试听一体的地方。 来自互联网
  • We are now about to start auditions to find a touring guitarist. 我们现在准备找一个新的吉他手。 来自互联网
2 audition 8uazw     
n.(对志愿艺人等的)面试(指试读、试唱等)
参考例句:
  • I'm going to the audition but I don't expect I'll get a part.我去试音,可并不指望会给我个角色演出。
  • At first,they said he was too young,but later they called him for an audition.起初,他们说他太小,但后来他们叫他去试听。
3 thumped 0a7f1b69ec9ae1663cb5ed15c0a62795     
v.重击, (指心脏)急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Dave thumped the table in frustration . 戴夫懊恼得捶打桌子。
  • He thumped the table angrily. 他愤怒地用拳捶击桌子。
4 chrysanthemums 1ded1ec345ac322f70619ba28233b570     
n.菊花( chrysanthemum的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The cold weather had most deleterious consequences among the chrysanthemums. 寒冷的天气对菊花产生了极有害的影响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The chrysanthemums are in bloom; some are red and some yellow. 菊花开了, 有红的,有黄的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
5 underneath VKRz2     
adj.在...下面,在...底下;adv.在下面
参考例句:
  • Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
  • She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣,里面套着一条连衣裙。
6 lighting CpszPL     
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光
参考例句:
  • The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
  • The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
7 wavy 7gFyX     
adj.有波浪的,多浪的,波浪状的,波动的,不稳定的
参考例句:
  • She drew a wavy line under the word.她在这个词的下面画了一条波纹线。
  • His wavy hair was too long and flopped just beneath his brow.他的波浪式头发太长了,正好垂在他的眉毛下。
8 dangly 36ae2df865bad56993a260122bd20d48     
悬摆的,摆晃的
参考例句:
9 earrings 9ukzSs     
n.耳环( earring的名词复数 );耳坠子
参考例句:
  • a pair of earrings 一对耳环
  • These earrings snap on with special fastener. 这付耳环是用特制的按扣扣上去的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
11 suede 6sXw7     
n.表面粗糙的软皮革
参考例句:
  • I'm looking for a suede jacket.我想买一件皮制茄克。
  • Her newly bought suede shoes look very fashionable.她新买的翻毛皮鞋看上去非常时尚。
12 winding Ue7z09     
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈
参考例句:
  • A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
  • The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。
13 auditioning ba6c8c8153080b3707893ba512a10a44     
vi.试听(audition的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • She was auditioning for the role of Lady Macbeth. 她试演了麦克佩斯夫人的角色。
  • Which part are you auditioning for? 你试音什么角色? 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 posture q1gzk     
n.姿势,姿态,心态,态度;v.作出某种姿势
参考例句:
  • The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
  • He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣,摆出一副打架的架势。
15 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
16 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
17 ragged KC0y8     
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的
参考例句:
  • A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
  • Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
18 chuckled 8ce1383c838073977a08258a1f3e30f8     
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
  • She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
19 stranded thfz18     
a.搁浅的,进退两难的
参考例句:
  • He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里, 身无分文,一筹莫展。
  • I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市,既没有钱,又没有朋友。
20 rustling c6f5c8086fbaf68296f60e8adb292798     
n. 瑟瑟声,沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的
参考例句:
  • the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
  • the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声
21 pouting f5e25f4f5cb47eec0e279bd7732e444b     
v.撅(嘴)( pout的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The child sat there pouting. 那孩子坐在那儿,一副不高兴的样子。 来自辞典例句
  • She was almost pouting at his hesitation. 她几乎要为他这种犹犹豫豫的态度不高兴了。 来自辞典例句
22 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
23 daydreaming 9c041c062b3f0df80606b13db4b7c0c3     
v.想入非非,空想( daydream的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Stop daydreaming and be realistic. 别空想了,还是从实际出发吧。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Bill was sitting and daydreaming so his mother told him to come down to earth and to do his homework. 比尔坐着空想, 他母亲要他面对现实,去做课外作业。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
24 janitors 57ca206edb2855b724941b4089bf8ca7     
n.看门人( janitor的名词复数 );看管房屋的人;锅炉工
参考例句:
  • The janitors were always kicking us out. 守卫总是将~踢出去。 来自互联网
  • My aim is to be one of the best janitors in the world. 我的目标是要成为全世界最好的守门人。 来自互联网
25 awfully MPkym     
adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地
参考例句:
  • Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
  • I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。
26 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
27 irritably e3uxw     
ad.易生气地
参考例句:
  • He lost his temper and snapped irritably at the children. 他发火了,暴躁地斥责孩子们。
  • On this account the silence was irritably broken by a reproof. 为了这件事,他妻子大声斥责,令人恼火地打破了宁静。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
28 giggled 72ecd6e6dbf913b285d28ec3ba1edb12     
v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The girls giggled at the joke. 女孩子们让这笑话逗得咯咯笑。
  • The children giggled hysterically. 孩子们歇斯底里地傻笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
29 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
30 gasped e6af294d8a7477229d6749fa9e8f5b80     
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要
参考例句:
  • She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
  • People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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