÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š÷š Topic N3 ("At the Theatre")
÷š÷š÷š÷š I will never forget my first visit to the÷š Bolshoy÷š Theatre.
It was ages ago, but this stands out in my memory quiet÷š vividly.
My mother bought beforehand two tickets for a matinee÷š perfomance
of the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" by Chaikovsky.÷š We÷š came÷š to÷š the
theatre long before the perfomance began. A sign at the÷š entrance
of the theatre said that "house full". Many people were÷š standing
at the entrace of the theatre asking if we had an÷š extra÷š ticket.
We left our coats in the cloak-room and bought a program from the
usher to see what the cast was. I remember we were÷š glad÷š to÷š see
that Ulanova was dancing the main part. When÷š we÷š came÷š into÷š the
hall the orchestra were tuning in their instruments. We found our
seats which were in the stalls and went exploring the theatre. My
mother showed me the boxes, the pitm the dress-circle, the tieres
and balconies. At 12 sharp th lights÷š went÷š down.÷š The÷š conductor
appeared and the overtune began. After the overtune÷š the÷š curtain
went up. I was in raptures at what I saw on÷š the÷š stage.÷š I÷š have
never seen anything more wonderful. The scenery and÷š the÷š dancing
were superb. The ballet seemed to me a fairy-tale. When the÷š last
curtain fell, the house burst out into applause. I÷š applauded÷š so
much, that my hands ached. The cries of encore sounded÷š all÷š over
the÷š theatre. The÷š dancers÷š got÷š many÷š curtain÷š calls÷š and÷š÷š were
presented with many flowers. The perfomance was a÷š great÷š success
with the public. It was one of my brightest memories.
A*.FRM*.MAC