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儿童英语读物 The Mystery on Stage CHAPTER 4 Behind the Scenes

时间:2017-08-09 05:58来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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“I still think Melody had something to do with that note,” Benny said the next day. Benny and Soo Lee were backstage, with many others, sanding boards for the scenery.

Soo Lee took some more sandpaper. “I don’t know, Benny,” she said.

Violet came out of the costume room holding the furry1 yellow-brown material she was using to make Jessie’s lion costume. “Did Melody come back after that scene last night?”

Benny nodded. “She’s on stage right now rehearsing with Jessie and Harold.”

“She’s limping, too,” Soo Lee said.

“How do you know?” Benny asked his cousin.

“I saw her in the wings,” Soo Lee said.

“I bet she’s just pretending to limp.” Benny did not sound at all sorry. “She wants everyone to feel sorry for her.”

Violet threaded her needle and sat on a chair next to Benny and Soo Lee. “It’s too bad Jessie has to spend so much time with her on stage,” she said.

“Oh, there you are,” Benny suddenly called out to Henry as he saw Henry coming toward them. Benny proudly pointed4 to his smoothly5 sanded board.

“That’s good, Benny.” Henry smiled, but he soon looked serious again. “Jim told me he spoke6 to Melody last night.”

“What did he say?” Benny held his piece of sandpaper in midair.

“He told her if she kept interrupting rehearsals8, he didn’t want her in the play.”

Benny’s eyes grew wider. “Did he ask her about the note in pink crayon?”

Henry nodded. “He said she seemed just as surprised about it as we were.”

“She’s a good actress,” Benny reminded his brother.

“I agree,” Henry said. “But we shouldn’t jump to any conclusions. Let’s just watch her — closely.” The others nodded.

Jim suddenly came backstage. Everyone stopped talking and looked at him. “Has anyone seen Sarah?” he asked.

Henry, Soo Lee, and Benny shook their heads.

“What! You mean she hasn’t shown up yet?” Nancy looked at her watch. She was busy sketching10 the design for Oz’s palace on a big piece of canvas. When the canvas painting was finished, it would be mounted on the wooden frame Henry, Benny, and Soo Lee were building.

“No, no one’s seen her.” Jim looked worried. “I can’t have this. I can’t have the major performers being this late. She was supposed to be here almost an hour ago.”

“Maybe she’s been delayed on the bus,” Violet suggested.

Jim stared at Violet. “If Sarah comes in, tell her I want to see her right away,” he announced.

“We will.” Violet said.

“Okay,” Jim announced. “I’d like to rehearse the scene with the Munchkins. Could I have all the Munchkins on stage, please.” Several children and short adults followed the director.

Stuart rushed by carrying a large white extension cord. “Oh, there you are, Henry,” he said. “I want to show you how to work the lights during the tornado11 scene.”

“I’m coming.” Henry stood up and brushed the sawdust off his pants.

Benny looked at the activity around him. The actress who played the Wicked Witch of the West was mixing paint for the scenery. The Good Witch, who was being played by Mrs. Adams, the town librarian, sewed the hem2 of her beautiful gown. The Wizard, Richard, hammered boards together to make Dorothy’s house.

“You have a lot of actors working backstage,” Benny said.

“Oh, yes,” Nancy answered him cheerfully from across the large room. “Everyone does something to help out in community theater.”

“Ouch!” Richard suddenly yelled and dropped his hammer. “You can tell Jim I am not, and I repeat not working on scenery any longer! I’m an actor, not a carpenter.”

“Oh, Richard,” Nancy said, shaking her head.

Richard stood up and glared. “I think I’ll go see what they’re doing with the lights for my scenes,” he announced.

Nancy sighed and stood up to stretch. She walked over to where the Aldens were working. Violet was carefully cutting into the furry yellow-brown material. Every once in a while, she paused to look at the sketch9 she’d made for the lion costume. Nancy looked over her shoulder.

“I wonder what could have happened to Sarah,” Violet said.

Nancy didn’t answer right away. She was too busy looking at Violet’s sketch. “Violet,” she finally said, “that’s really good. We should have you design the costumes for the Scarecrow and Wizard, too.”

“Oh, I’d love to,” Violet said eagerly, looking up from her cutting.

“Wait until I tell Mrs. Adams. She’s the other person making costumes,” Nancy explained.

“You mean the one who’s playing the Good Witch?” Violet sounded pleased. She liked Mrs. Adams.

“Yes.” Nancy chuckled12 a little. “She was worried about having so many costumes to make in such a short time. I can’t wait to tell her we have another pro3 on the crew.”

Violet felt her cheeks flush. “Thank you,” she said, looking at the floor.

Jessie came backstage holding her script. “Benny, Jim would like you to come on stage and hold Watch. The stage lights are getting him very excited.”

Benny nodded and stood up. At that moment Sarah rushed in through the stage door.

“Where were you?” Nancy snapped. “You should have been here at three o’clock.”

“I know.” Sarah hurriedly took off her purple coat and hung it near the costume room. “I was looking for my script. I couldn’t find it anywhere.” Sarah looked as if she were near tears. “I know I had it yesterday.”

Nancy sighed. “What else can go wrong?” she whispered to herself. “You can borrow mine for now.” She handed Sarah her well-worn script. “But be careful with it. It’s all marked up with my notes.”

“I will,” Sarah said solemnly as she took the script. Violet noticed Sarah’s eyes looked a little red.

“We can probably find you another script.” Nancy’s voice softened13. “I’ll look around for one while you’re rehearsing. Now go on. Jim wants to see you right away.”

Sarah nodded and rummaged14 through her big black shoulder bag for another tissue before she hurried on stage. Jessie and Benny followed behind her.

Nancy went to the costume room to tell Mrs. Adams about Violet. All was quiet, until Melody came backstage limping rather noticeably. She sat down on the stairs.

“There’s nothing to do — only Sarah and the Munchkins are rehearsing now,” she said crossly. “You know …” She paused, waiting for Violet to look up from her sewing. “I think I sprained15 my ankle when I fell last night.”

“Did you see a doctor?” Violet asked politely.

“Yes, he told me it wasn’t sprained. But he gave me some medicine to help numb16 the pain.”

Violet nodded. She was glad when Nancy and Mrs. Adams called Violet into the costume room.

“Oh, Violet, I would like to introduce you to Mrs. Adams.”

“Oh, I know Violet from the library.” Mrs. Adams held out her hand. “Nancy’s been telling me how well you sew.”

“You should show her your sketch,” Nancy said to Violet as she rummaged through the bottom drawer in the big dresser. Suddenly she stopped and looked puzzled. Quickly, she opened the other drawers and looked through them.

“Oh, no! Oh, my goodness!” Nancy almost shrieked17.

“What’s wrong?” Mrs. Adams asked in her soft voice.

“All the props18 I collected yesterday are missing!” Nancy wrung19 her hands. She looked at Violet. “Did you move them?” she asked.

Violet shook her head. “I didn’t even know they were there,” she said.

“Neither did I,” Mrs. Adams said. “What was in that drawer?”

Nancy put her hands in front of her face. “Dorothy’s red shoes, your wand, and the Tinman’s ax.”

“Those things can all be replaced,” Mrs. Adams assured Nancy. “I can make another wand, and I also have a pair of red shoes that should fit Sarah.”

“I can make a cardboard ax,” Violet said, looking around the large costume room. Everything seemed to be the way she’d left it earlier. “Maybe we should check to see if anything else is missing,” she suggested.

“Good idea.” Nancy nodded. “There’s probably a logical explanation for this. When rehearsal7 is over, I’ll talk to Jim. Maybe he took the props.”

Violet opened the narrow top drawer. It held makeup20, cotton balls, and lotions21. Scarves, sweaters, pencils, crayons, drawing paper, and boards filled the other drawers.

“Everything seems to be in order,” Nancy said, looking over Violet’s shoulder. Mrs. Adams opened the door of a wardrobe. “I put the material for Dorothy’s pinafore in here,” she explained. Suddenly she gasped22.

Violet and Nancy were quickly by her side. The blue-and-white checked material had been ripped to shreds23!


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 furry Rssz2D     
adj.毛皮的;似毛皮的;毛皮制的
参考例句:
  • This furry material will make a warm coat for the winter.这件毛皮料在冬天会是一件保暖的大衣。
  • Mugsy is a big furry brown dog,who wiggles when she is happy.马格斯是一只棕色大长毛狗,当她高兴得时候她会摇尾巴。
2 hem 7dIxa     
n.贴边,镶边;vt.缝贴边;(in)包围,限制
参考例句:
  • The hem on her skirt needs sewing.她裙子上的褶边需要缝一缝。
  • The hem of your dress needs to be let down an inch.你衣服的折边有必要放长1英寸。
3 pro tk3zvX     
n.赞成,赞成的意见,赞成者
参考例句:
  • The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
  • Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军?
4 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。
5 smoothly iiUzLG     
adv.平滑地,顺利地,流利地,流畅地
参考例句:
  • The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作,所以工作进展顺利。
  • Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。
6 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。
7 rehearsal AVaxu     
n.排练,排演;练习
参考例句:
  • I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
  • You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。
8 rehearsals 58abf70ed0ce2d3ac723eb2d13c1c6b5     
n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 );排练;复述;重复
参考例句:
  • The earlier protests had just been dress rehearsals for full-scale revolution. 早期的抗议仅仅是大革命开始前的预演。
  • She worked like a demon all through rehearsals. 她每次排演时始终精力过人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 sketch UEyyG     
n.草图;梗概;素描;v.素描;概述
参考例句:
  • My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
  • I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。
10 sketching 2df579f3d044331e74dce85d6a365dd7     
n.草图
参考例句:
  • They are sketching out proposals for a new road. 他们正在草拟修建新路的计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • "Imagination is busy sketching rose-tinted pictures of joy. “飞舞驰骋的想象描绘出一幅幅玫瑰色欢乐的场景。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
11 tornado inowl     
n.飓风,龙卷风
参考例句:
  • A tornado whirled into the town last week.龙卷风上周袭击了这座城市。
  • The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。
12 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。
13 softened 19151c4e3297eb1618bed6a05d92b4fe     
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰
参考例句:
  • His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
  • The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。
14 rummaged c663802f2e8e229431fff6cdb444b548     
翻找,搜寻( rummage的过去式和过去分词 ); 已经海关检查
参考例句:
  • I rummaged through all the boxes but still could not find it. 几个箱子都翻腾遍了也没有找到。
  • The customs officers rummaged the ship suspected to have contraband goods. 海关人员仔细搜查了一艘有走私嫌疑的海轮。
15 sprained f314e68885bee024fbaac62a560ab7d4     
v.&n. 扭伤
参考例句:
  • I stumbled and sprained my ankle. 我摔了一跤,把脚脖子扭了。
  • When Mary sprained her ankles, John carried her piggyback to the doctors. 玛丽扭伤了足踝,约翰驮她去看医生。
16 numb 0RIzK     
adj.麻木的,失去感觉的;v.使麻木
参考例句:
  • His fingers were numb with cold.他的手冻得发麻。
  • Numb with cold,we urged the weary horses forward.我们冻得发僵,催着疲惫的马继续往前走。
17 shrieked dc12d0d25b0f5d980f524cd70c1de8fe     
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She shrieked in fright. 她吓得尖叫起来。
  • Li Mei-t'ing gave a shout, and Lu Tzu-hsiao shrieked, "Tell what? 李梅亭大声叫,陆子潇尖声叫:“告诉什么? 来自汉英文学 - 围城
18 props 50fe03ab7bf37089a7e88da9b31ffb3b     
小道具; 支柱( prop的名词复数 ); 支持者; 道具; (橄榄球中的)支柱前锋
参考例句:
  • Rescuers used props to stop the roof of the tunnel collapsing. 救援人员用支柱防止隧道顶塌陷。
  • The government props up the prices of farm products to support farmers' incomes. 政府保持农产品价格不变以保障农民们的收入。
19 wrung b11606a7aab3e4f9eebce4222a9397b1     
绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 ); 握紧(尤指别人的手); 把(湿衣服)拧干; 绞掉(水)
参考例句:
  • He has wrung the words from their true meaning. 他曲解这些字的真正意义。
  • He wrung my hand warmly. 他热情地紧握我的手。
20 makeup 4AXxO     
n.组织;性格;化装品
参考例句:
  • Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
  • Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗?
21 lotions a98fc794098c32b72112f2048a16cdf0     
n.洗液,洗剂,护肤液( lotion的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Do not use lotions or oils to lubricate the skin. 不要用润肤剂或油类来润滑皮肤。 来自辞典例句
  • They were experts at preserving the bodies of the dead by embalming them with special lotions. 他们具有采用特种药物洗剂防止尸体腐烂的专门知识。 来自辞典例句
22 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》
23 shreds 0288daa27f5fcbe882c0eaedf23db832     
v.撕碎,切碎( shred的第三人称单数 );用撕毁机撕毁(文件)
参考例句:
  • Peel the carrots and cut them into shreds. 将胡罗卜削皮,切成丝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I want to take this diary and rip it into shreds. 我真想一赌气扯了这日记。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说
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