I. Read and understand the text
Going to the Theatre
Theater is a wonderful place. If you want to go to the theatre you should think about some things beforehand. First of all go to the box office and ask if they have seats for the day you want. Don't forget that the most expensive seats are in the front stalls or in the boxes, and the cheapest are in the gallery. The seats in the dress circle are not so expensive, but quite good, especially if they are in the first and second row. If you can't decide about your seats you can look at the map of the hall which usually is on the wall of the box-office and can be quite helpful.
The visitors can enjoy watching dramas, tragedies, comedies and sometimes an opera or a ballet.
When you go in, you enter the foyer. Then you come to the cloak-room, where you leave your coats and hats. You can also take opera glasses there. After that you go to the theatre hall. The person who meets you at the entrance is an usher. You must show your ticket to her.
When you enter the hall, you find your seats. You can see the stage in front of you. You can't see the scenery before the performance start.
The orchestra pit is next to the stage. This is where the musicians sit and play the music. The performance begins after the third bell has rung.
The curtain goes up and you become a spectator. If the spectators enjoy the performance they applaud, give flowers and small presents to the actors and actresses. Between the acts of the play there are intervals. The spectators leave their seats and go to the buffet where they can eat a cake and drink a glass of lemonade or juice. During the interval the spectators discuss the performance and the play of the actors and actresses. After the performance finishes, the spectators rise from their seats and go to the cloakroom to get their coats and hats. You hear them say: "I enjoyed the performance very much", "The performance was splendid", "The actors and actresses performed very well".
II. Study the new words. Write them in your exercise books.
III. Answer the questions on the content:
1. Where do people buy ticket to the theatre?
2. What tickets do you usually choose? Why?
3. Which tickets are the most expensive ones?
4. What performances do they show in the thratres?
5. Where do people leave their overcoats?
6. How do we call people who like going to the theatre?

IV. Fill in the gaps with the words from the text:
1. To see the performance better you can buy theatre …. .
2. You show your tickets to the …. before you can enter the house.
3. Next to the stage there is the …. …. where the musicians play their music.
4. If the spectators enjoy the performance they usually ….. .
5. In the interval people leave their …. and have a snack.

V. Read and translate the dialogues in writing:
- What about going to the theatre this weekend, Jane?
- I don’t mind, Mark. Do you know what is on at our Opera House?
- It’s “The Queen of Spades” by Tchaikovsky. And I am lucky enough to have two tickets for this Sunday. I’d like to invite you, Jane.
- Oh, how can I refuse your invitation? It’s my favourite opera! Who is playing the leading role?
- Well. The cast is excellent. The billboard says Alice West and Peter Allen are starring.
- I love the operas where Alice stars. Her singing is very expressive and powerful.
- Our seats are in the stalls, Row 5, in the middle. So we’ll be quite close to the stage. Although I prefer dress-circle seats because you can get a good view of the stage.
- The seats are splendid, Mark. And we won’t need any opera-glasses. Is it a matinee performance?
- No, it’s an evening performance. It starts at 6.30 p.m.
…………………………
- Well, did you like the opera, Jane?
- Oh, it was a superb performance! And Alice was a great success with the public. She was at her best as always.
- Yes. The house was packed. There wasn’t a single seat vacant today. I was absolutely thrilled with a beautiful voice of the Countess. She really captivated the audience. However, frankly speaking, the soprano voice of Lisa was sometimes a little out of tune.
- Really? I didn’t notice that. I just enjoyed every minute of the opera: from the moment the curtain rose till the end of the last act!
- I am glad you enjoyed the performance.
- And I’m very thankful to you for such a wonderful evening, Mark.

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