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儿童英语读物 The Mystery on Stage CHAPTER 9 The Show Must Go On

时间:2017-08-09 06:18来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

Melody shrieked1. Sarah, who was in the wings when the light crashed, turned pale.

Jim jumped onto the stage. “How did this happen?” he demanded, turning to Henry and Stuart.

Both boys gave him a blank look.

Nancy came out of the wings onto the stage. “Do you think someone pushed it over?”

Jim put his hands in front of his face. “I just can’t believe someone would do that. What is going on here!” he yelled. By now, some of the cast and crew had come onto the stage.

Richard stepped to the front of the stage and folded his hands across his chest. “What is going on here? I could have been killed!”

“Believe me, Richard, I did not arrange this on purpose,” Jim said dryly. “Where are we going to get another spotlight2 in time for the show tomorrow night?” he added with a sigh.

“Oh, I hadn’t even thought of that.” Nancy sounded discouraged. She stepped out of the way so the crew members could clear the stage of broken glass.

Once the stage was swept clean, the cast resumed their rehearsal3. No one showed much enthusiasm. Many people missed their cues, and even Sarah flubbed her lines in more than one scene.

“Sarah, you weren’t supposed to say that!” Melody said loudly.

Henry checked all the overhead lights. “The other lights seem fine,” he reported to Jim after rehearsal. Jim nodded as if he were still in a daze4. Indeed, he looked so tired, Henry volunteered to stay late to reset5 the lighting6 board.

“We’ll help you, Henry,” Jessie said. Violet, Benny, and Soo Lee nodded.

“Maybe we’ll be able to find another light,” Violet suggested.

“I wouldn’t count on it.” Jim sounded discouraged. “I think we better just redesign the lighting as Henry and I discussed. I know you’ll do a good job — all of you,” Jim added with a grateful look at the Aldens.

When everyone had left, Jessie opened the door to bring some air into the backstage area. She poked7 her head outside. Something she saw made her quickly shut the door.

“What’s the matter?” Violet asked.

“That woman,” Jessie whispered. Violet looked puzzled.

“Remember the woman we saw the other night in the fur coat?”

Violet nodded. “You mean she’s outside the theater again?”

“Yes,” Jessie was still whispering. “She’s just waiting in the street.”

“Did she see you?” Violet wondered.

Jessie shrugged8 her shoulders. “I’m not sure.”

Violet shivered a little. “It’s spooky back here at night,” she observed. The girls looked at the large sets stacked along the wall — Dorothy’s simple farmhouse9, the witch’s castle, even the Yellow Brick Road glowed eerily10 under the light of one small bulb overhead.

Henry came backstage with Benny. “I’m starting to change the lighting so it won’t depend so much on that big light we lost.”

“Couldn’t you wait a little longer?” Jessie asked. “We might find a replacement11.”

Henry looked at his watch. “Well, all right, but it’s already nine o’clock.”

Jessie nodded. “I know.” Quickly she told her brothers about seeing the mysterious woman in the fur coat.

Henry shook his head. “I don’t know what to think. So many things don’t seem right about this play.”

“I know what you mean,” Jessie answered. She walked over to another storage closet. “Nothing but brooms and mops in here,” she announced.

Henry sat down on the steps. “I really think someone tampered12 with that light on purpose,” he said grimly.

“So do I.” Jessie’s voice sounded muffled13 from inside the closet. “But who would do such a thing?”

“Why would someone in the cast try to ruin the show for everyone?” Violet remarked.

“We have to think about this,” Henry said. “First of all, whoever is doing these things may not be in the cast at all. Who do we suspect besides Sarah and Melody?

“Richard.” Violet and Jessie both answered at once. They came to join Henry on the steps.

“We did catch him fiddling14 with Violet’s poster,” Jessie reminded them.

“Well, we didn’t exactly catch him,” Violet pointed15 out. “But who else would want to make Richard’s name bigger?”

Jessie and Henry both nodded.

“What about the Tinman?” Benny asked as he came out of the costume room. “Don’t you think it’s strange he never takes his costume off?”

“Well, yes,” Jessie agreed reluctantly. “Still, I can’t believe he’d be responsible for ruining costumes and sets. He’s so serious about his acting16.”

“You could say the same about Sarah,” Henry reminded them.

“Yes.” Jessie said slowly. “I’ve been wondering about Sarah ever since the play started. She’s so secretive.”

“Don’t forget about that folder17 she didn’t want us to see,” Benny reminded his sister as he joined his family.

“Yes,” Jessie nodded.

“But all these pranks18 were directed against Sarah,” Violet pointed out. “It’s Sarah’s costume someone ruined, Sarah’s name that was crossed off the audition19 sheet …”

“And Sarah’s props20 and script that were taken,” Jessie finished.

Henry stood and stretched. “The question is, why wouldn’t someone want Sarah in the show?” he asked.

“Well, Melody wouldn’t want her,” Benny noted21.

“No,” Jessie agreed. “She wouldn’t.”

“And Richard wouldn’t want her in the play, either, because she takes too much attention away from him,” Violet pointed out.

“That’s true,” Henry said, nodding.

“I guess if we’re naming suspects, we can’t forget the woman outside in the fur coat,” said Violet.

“Or the man in the big white car,” Benny remarked.

“Yes,” Henry agreed. “I wonder why he didn’t want to go backstage to find Sarah himself. No one else would have taken his parking place. No other cars were even parked near his.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Violet said slowly. She suddenly stood up and looked around the large backstage area. “By the way, where is Soo Lee?”

“I don’t know,” Benny said. “Soo Lee! Soo Lee, where are you?” he called loudly.

“I’m in here,” answered Soo Lee from the costume room. “I think I found something.”

The Aldens rushed to her side. “There’s a big trunk in this closet,” Soo Lee told them. “Look what’s inside!”

“Soo Lee! You found a spare bulb,” Henry almost shouted. “I won’t have to reset the lights.” Henry gave his cousin a big hug. “All we have to do now is replace this light and we’re set for tomorrow.”

“The show will go on,” said Benny happily.

On the night of the performance, Jessie, Mrs. McGregor, and Benny arrived early. They needed plenty of time to change and put on their stage makeup22.

Soo Lee came into the auditorium23 with Henry and Violet. She was all dressed up to be an usher24 in a red velvet25 dress and black patent leather shoes.

“I can’t thank you enough for finding that light, Soo Lee,” Jim said when he saw her.

Soo Lee smiled.

“Goodness, some people are here already,” Violet said softly, looking toward the door.

“Oh, I better go seat them,” Soo Lee said as she took a stack of programs in her arms.

“We’ll be backstage,” Henry called to Soo Lee.

From his post by the lighting board, Henry could peek26 behind the thick red curtain and watch the audience. He was the first to notice Grandfather seated near the front row.

Benny soon came to join Henry. Benny was all dressed up in his Munchkin outfit27 — pale blue pants and a matching jacket.

“Look, you can see Grandfather,” Henry said as he stood near the curtain. Benny peeked28 out into the auditorium. He looked back at Henry in surprise. “The woman in the fur coat is sitting next to him.”

“What?” Henry left his post by the lighting board to look for himself. Sure enough, Grandfather was helping29 the woman off with her coat. “They’re talking like they know each other,” Henry said, surprised. “I wonder who that woman could be?”

While Henry stood behind the curtain talking to Benny, he heard some rustling30 noises behind him. A man wearing a tweed coat was opening the fuse box near the lighting board. He couldn’t see Henry or Benny as they were hidden from him by the curtain.

“Hey!” Henry shouted to the man. “What are you doing?”

The man whirled around holding one of the fuses. Henry recognized him. He was the man he’d seen in the big white car. Suddenly, Sarah appeared in the wings with Jessie, Violet, and Jim. She was all dressed in her costume. “Oh, Dad!” she sounded heartbroken. “It was you all along, wasn’t it?”

Sarah’s father stared at the fuse in his hand and then at the shocked faces of Sarah, Henry, Benny, Jessie, Violet, and Jim.

“Yes,” he muttered looking down at the floor. “I couldn’t let you be in this play,” he continued in a shaky voice. “I just couldn’t.”

“Why not?” Benny blurted31 out.

When the man looked up, he had tears in his eyes. “Sarah’s my only child,” he explained looking at his daughter. “Her mother was an actress. She died in the theater in a freak accident when Sarah was only a baby.”

“I knew that, but I still wanted to act!” Sarah exclaimed. She had tears in her eyes, too.

“Ten minutes to curtain time,” Nancy called to Henry from behind the backstage curtain. “I’ll be ready,” Henry called back.

“You almost ruined our production so your daughter couldn’t be in the theater!” Jim exclaimed. He couldn’t believe it.

Mr. Bellamy sighed. “Yes, I was very upset when I heard Sarah was even trying out for a part. I made that phone call during the auditions32 and wrote those notes. I used to go backstage after everyone had left for the evening. I stole Sarah’s script and tore Dorothy’s costume, too.”

“How did you get in?”

“I would usually be somewhere in the building before the janitors33 locked the auditorium.”

Jim nodded grimly. “Someone could have been badly hurt when that light toppled over,” he said, scowling34.

“I know.” Mr. Bellamy looked ashamed. “I was so upset, I couldn’t think clearly. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for all the problems I caused you.”

Jim nodded. “Well, I must confess, I am relieved to know the reason for all these disturbances,” he said slowly. “At first, I thought this play was jinxed, and no one would ever hire me as a director again.”

“Oh, that’s why you always looked so worried, even at the very beginning, before the auditions began,” Violet said.

Jim smiled and looked a little embarrassed.

Sarah blinked her eyes furiously to keep the tears from running down her cheeks. She went over to her father and put an arm around him. “I really love being with you Dad, but I love acting, too. Please stay for the show. Just watch me. I love the theater so much,” Sarah said.

Mr. Bellamy looked at his daughter. “I know you do. I must say I’ve been impressed with your determination to go on despite all I did to stop you.”

“Five minutes to curtain time,” Nancy called from behind the curtain.

Mr. Bellamy sighed. “Will you let me stay?” he asked Jim. “I wouldn’t blame you for saying no.”

“You can stay,” Jim said gruffly. He motioned to one of the ushers35 to lead Mr. Bellamy to a good seat.

“Time to raise the curtain,” Jim announced.

“Let’s break our legs,” Benny said as he took his place in the wings beside the other Munchkins.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 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
2 spotlight 6hBzmk     
n.公众注意的中心,聚光灯,探照灯,视听,注意,醒目
参考例句:
  • This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
  • The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。
3 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。
4 daze vnyzH     
v.(使)茫然,(使)发昏
参考例句:
  • The blow on the head dazed him for a moment.他头上受了一击后就昏眩了片刻。
  • I like dazing to sit in the cafe by myself on Sunday.星期日爱独坐人少的咖啡室发呆。
5 reset rkHzYJ     
v.重新安排,复位;n.重新放置;重放之物
参考例句:
  • As soon as you arrive at your destination,step out of the aircraft and reset your wristwatch.你一到达目的地,就走出飞机并重新设置手表时间。
  • He is recovering from an operation to reset his arm.他做了一个手臂复位手术,正在恢复。
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 poked 87f534f05a838d18eb50660766da4122     
v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 );戳出;拨弄;与(某人)性交
参考例句:
  • She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. 她用胳膊肘顶他的肋部。
  • His elbow poked out through his torn shirt sleeve. 他的胳膊从衬衫的破袖子中露了出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 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》
9 farmhouse kt1zIk     
n.农场住宅(尤指主要住房)
参考例句:
  • We fell for the farmhouse as soon as we saw it.我们对那所农舍一见倾心。
  • We put up for the night at a farmhouse.我们在一间农舍投宿了一夜。
10 eerily 0119faef8e868c9b710c70fff6737e50     
adv.引起神秘感或害怕地
参考例句:
  • It was nearly mid-night and eerily dark all around her. 夜深了,到处是一片黑黝黝的怪影。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
  • The vast volcanic slope was eerily reminiscent of a lunar landscape. 开阔的火山坡让人心生怪异地联想起月球的地貌。 来自辞典例句
11 replacement UVxxM     
n.取代,替换,交换;替代品,代用品
参考例句:
  • We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
  • They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。
12 tampered 07b218b924120d49a725c36b06556000     
v.窜改( tamper的过去式 );篡改;(用不正当手段)影响;瞎摆弄
参考例句:
  • The records of the meeting had been tampered with. 会议记录已被人擅自改动。 来自辞典例句
  • The old man's will has been tampered with. 老人的遗嘱已被窜改。 来自辞典例句
13 muffled fnmzel     
adj.(声音)被隔的;听不太清的;(衣服)裹严的;蒙住的v.压抑,捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 );用厚厚的衣帽包着(自己)
参考例句:
  • muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
  • There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 fiddling XtWzRz     
微小的
参考例句:
  • He was fiddling with his keys while he talked to me. 和我谈话时他不停地摆弄钥匙。
  • All you're going to see is a lot of fiddling around. 你今天要看到的只是大量的胡摆乱弄。 来自英汉文学 - 廊桥遗梦
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 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
17 folder KjixL     
n.纸夹,文件夹
参考例句:
  • Peter returned the plan and charts to their folder.彼得把这份计划和表格放回文件夹中。
  • He draws the document from its folder.他把文件从硬纸夹里抽出来。
18 pranks cba7670310bdd53033e32d6c01506817     
n.玩笑,恶作剧( prank的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Frank's errancy consisted mostly of pranks. 法兰克错在老喜欢恶作剧。 来自辞典例句
  • He always leads in pranks and capers. 他老是带头胡闹和开玩笑。 来自辞典例句
19 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。
20 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。
21 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
22 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?
23 auditorium HO6yK     
n.观众席,听众席;会堂,礼堂
参考例句:
  • The teacher gathered all the pupils in the auditorium.老师把全体同学集合在礼堂内。
  • The stage is thrust forward into the auditorium.舞台向前突出,伸入观众席。
24 usher sK2zJ     
n.带位员,招待员;vt.引导,护送;vi.做招待,担任引座员
参考例句:
  • The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
  • They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。
25 velvet 5gqyO     
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的
参考例句:
  • This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
  • The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。
26 peek ULZxW     
vi.偷看,窥视;n.偷偷的一看,一瞥
参考例句:
  • Larry takes a peek out of the window.赖瑞往窗外偷看了一下。
  • Cover your eyes and don't peek.捂上眼睛,别偷看。
27 outfit YJTxC     
n.(为特殊用途的)全套装备,全套服装
参考例句:
  • Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。
  • His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。
28 peeked c7b2fdc08abef3a4f4992d9023ed9bb8     
v.很快地看( peek的过去式和过去分词 );偷看;窥视;微露出
参考例句:
  • She peeked over the top of her menu. 她从菜单上往外偷看。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • On two occasions she had peeked at him through a crack in the wall. 她曾两次透过墙缝窥视他。 来自辞典例句
29 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
30 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
31 blurted fa8352b3313c0b88e537aab1fcd30988     
v.突然说出,脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She blurted it out before I could stop her. 我还没来得及制止,她已脱口而出。
  • He blurted out the truth, that he committed the crime. 他不慎说出了真相,说是他犯了那个罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
32 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
33 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
34 scowling bbce79e9f38ff2b7862d040d9e2c1dc7     
怒视,生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • There she was, grey-suited, sweet-faced, demure, but scowling. 她就在那里,穿着灰色的衣服,漂亮的脸上显得严肃而忧郁。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • Scowling, Chueh-hui bit his lips. 他马上把眉毛竖起来。 来自汉英文学 - 家(1-26) - 家(1-26)
35 ushers 4d39dce0f047e8d64962e1a6e93054d1     
n.引座员( usher的名词复数 );招待员;门房;助理教员v.引,领,陪同( usher的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Seats clicked, ushers bowed while he looked blandly on. 座位发出啪啦啪啦的声响,领座员朝客人们鞠躬,而他在一边温和殷勤地看着。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • The minister then offers a brief prayer of dedication, and the ushers return to their seats. 于是牧师又做了一个简短的奉献的祈祷,各招待员也各自回座位。 来自辞典例句
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