Imagine500 people in a tiny,dirty,unwashed courtyard. They're shouting,swearing,drinking,eating and spitting. They've never had a bath in their lives,so you can't even imagine how they smell. They're here to watch the latest show by the popular playwright,William Shakespeare.
This is probably where the theatregoing tradition in the UK started.
From the Theatre Royal in the town of Bath to the English National Opera in London,theatres in the UK can seem very grand. But look beyond the diamonds and the gowns(长袍),and you'll discover a human heart keeping British theatre alive.
Shakespeare's plays are full of rude jokes to get people laughing,but it wasn't just Shakespeare's.
"Music halls" in the 19th and 20th centuries put on cheap,funny,popular shows with lots of songs for people to sing along to.
Villages often have drama societies,and local people put on plays as a way of relaxing after work.
There's also the traditional Christmas pantomime(童话剧),usually a version of a well-known fairy tale. A woman dressed as a man plays the hero,a man dressed as a woman plays "Widow Twankey(a mad but wise old aunt who wears far too much make-up)",and there are always lots of rude jokes and cakes being squashed(压碎)in people's faces.
In tricky financial times,community theatre became far more fashionable than fancy,expensive theatre. In London today,you can watch plays in pubs,tunnels and outdoors—partly because it saves money,but also because the new experience is exciting. And it's a way of getting to know other people.
Let's face it—life is a theatre and everyone plays a part. So why shouldn't everyone join in with theater itself?
In other words: "All the world's a stage,/And all the men and women merely players."
Who said that?The man behind English theatre,of course—William Shakespeare.
【小题1】In the first paragraph, the author mainly intends to ________.A.complain about the poor manners of British theatre audience |
B.describe how William Shakespeare was popular in his time |
C.draw people's attention to the theatregoing tradition in the UK |
D.introduce the history of famous British theatre |
A.The building of grand, fancy theatres. |
B.The fashionable jewelry and clothes used in plays. |
C.The focus on human elements such as rude jokes and popular songs. |
D.The effort made to present shows with simple, everyday language. |
A.Shakespeare is the first famous British playwright who wrote about common people. |
B.British theatre masterpieces were born in "music halls" in the 19th and 20th centuries. |
C.Community theatre is much more popular than fancy operas in the UK. |
D.British theatre performances are no longer only taking place in traditional places. |
A.stress that everybody should enjoy theatre |
B.prove that theatre is a great way to relax oneself |
C.prove that people should treat their lives seriously |
D.show that anybody can become a successful theatre actor or actress |