Passage Twenty-two
Pantomimes like pageants1, 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 pided 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 unity2 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 hangers3 on which to put elaborate garments.
The scene should be discussed at some length with the producer so that the background, which is decided4 upon, does not present impossibilities for the provision of cosplaytumes within the budget or insuperable making problems for the wardrobe. Because of the large numbers of cosplaytumes 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.
cosplaytumes for pantomimes need to be imaginative, gay and fairly bold in conceptionthis does not mean that they need to be garish5. 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 gimmick6 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 varied7 audience to be catered8 for there must be cosplaytumes 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 naval9 routine or some number emphasizing precision and calling for trim slick cosplaytumes. 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 ballroom10 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 plumes11 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 s\dash of the Orient, or the particular feeling of a historical epoch12 is added to the standard cosplaytume.
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 cosplaytume.
[B]. It implies cosplaytume cosplayts too much.
[C]. It implies the funds available is on meager13 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 cosplaytume. [D]. harmony.
Vocabulary
1. culminate 达到顶点，达到最高潮
2. insuperable 不可逾越的，不可克服的
3. tarlatan 薄纱，塔拉丹
4. taffeta 花花绿绿的塔夫绸，衬绸
5. gimmick （魔术师道具等）暗机关，
6. garish 装饰（物） 鲜艳夺目的，俗不可耐的
7. gingham 方格花布
8. stripe 条纹布，斜纹布
9. chintz 擦光印花棉布
10. slick 光滑的，打扮好看的，华而不实的，讨人喜欢的
11. tutu （芭蕾舞女演员）短裙
12. sequin 装饰服饰用的圆形小金属片
13. tinsel 金银丝织品，闪亮装装饰品
难句译注
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.
[结构简析] for once= for just once 就这一次
[参考译文] 后者确实就是为了视觉成效，就这一次，演员成了只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.
[结构简析] 两句句子。To make use of 借助，to point 强调。
[参考译文] 通常说来，在一幕里，需要有当时服饰上最新款式和风格。假如便于和演出设计相吻合的话，借助当时的机关并给以适合突出也不失为好方法。
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。
[结构简析] 注意后面thus making的译法。
[参考译文] 观众来看哑剧，不只为了大饱眼福，还有其它目的。这就给了设计者展示才能超越其他人的大好机会。
写作办法与文章大意
这是一篇论述哑剧筹备工作的文章。文章刚开始就点明主题。然后从钱，剧幕，服饰，色彩，情趣等方面加以说明，手法多种。
答案祥解
1. A. 最后一幕很壮观。文章内两处提到，第一段第二句哑剧几乎一直分成独立的几幕，常常是发生在不一样的国家和不一样的世纪，因此，在宏伟的最后一幕有一个达到高潮完整统一设计。第四段第四行末尾最后一幕，需要是全戏最壮观的，地址常常是在舞厅或者皇宫，聚集着所有些演员，以备谢幕。
B. 漂亮的。 C. 浪漫的。 D. 灿烂的，都只不过壮观中之一部分。
2. D. 怎么样为哑剧做好筹备工作。文章刚开始哑剧，像露天演出剧一样，需要非常不错策划，应在演出前好几个星期作好刚开始的组织工作。后面几段都是围绕这一中心而写。
A. 怎么样获得哑剧的成功，文中提得极少但筹备的目的是获得成功。 B. 哑剧的非常重要的原因。 C. 哑剧需要一个非常不错的设计，都是筹备工作中提及的部分内容。
3. C. 隐射能得到的资金极少。第二段剧幕场景应和舞台监督进行详细的讨论。如此决定下来的场景不会出现预算内金额不可以提供服饰，或剧团服饰很难提供的问题。因为需要剧装量大，要充分借助能得到的最实惠的材料，类似薄纱，底价棉布和衬绸之类。可以在大商店或马路地摊上选择和购买一些降价的实惠货品。这一段说明他们的资金相当少，所以C 正确。
A. 演员认输超越了服饰数。 B. 服饰太贵，文中都没提到。更不是第二段的内涵。 D. 哑剧需要一个好计划。刚开始就点明，不需要隐射。
4. A. 充分计划好的筹备工作。假如没计划，其他三点都谈不上。由于
B. 出色演员。 C. 华丽的戏装。 D. 和谐，都四计划内考虑的原因。
