Episode 30

EPISODE 30
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

 

 

READING COMPREHENSION

 

THEATRE     

John is a theatre- goer ( = he likes going to the theatre very much). He watches one play ( = e.g. Othello) or musical a month. He is very fond of watching actors on stage ( = a platform where actors play). He usually sits in the front row ( = in the first line of seats). As he likes watching a Saturday performance ( = a play on Saturday), he needs to book ( = reserve) his ticket in advance ( = some time before the play). He doesn’t like watching flops ( = unsuccessful plays), so he reads reviews ( = critical opinions) carefully to see if the play is good.

 

More contexts for the new words:

• Mark is a real cinema-goer .
  ( = He likes going to the cinema very much)
• The first stage of our journey was absolutely fascinating.
  ( = The first part of our journey was fascinating.)
• They had a row last night.
  ( = They had a quarrel last night)

 

 

EXERCISE 1

Match the expression halves

 

1. a theatre-
2. on
3. in the front
4. to book
5. in
6. to read
7. a Saturday

 

1. a review
2. a ticket
3. advance
4. goer
5. performance
6. row
7. stage

 

EXERCISE 2

Complete the questions with words from the text, then answer them.

 

1. Are you a theatre-………………………………? Why/ why not?
2. Do you read play or film ………………………………? Why/ why not?
3. What was the worst play you’ve seen? Why do you think it was a ……………………………?

 

ENGLISH IN USE 

We have already revised how to make questions when we talk about regular actions. Today we will revise how to make negative sentences.

This sentence is positive:

He likes watching a Saturday performance.
And this is how a negative sentence looks:
He doesn’t ( = does not) like watching flops.

When we want to make a negative sentence with „he, she, it”, we put „doesn’t” ( = does not) after the person. Look at the word „like” now. There is no -s at the end of this word. When we have „doesn’t” in a sentence, we don’t need -s at the end of the main verb.

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

A/ What are the media going to talk about, now that the elections are over?

B/ It seems that economy will again be at CENTRE STAGE.

 

If something is at centre stage (or takes centre stage), it is (or becomes) in the centre of interest and attention.

 

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

1. If you ACT something OUT, you perform the actions and words of a situation or story.

The children acted out a verse from their favourite poem.

 

2. If someone, especially a child, ACTS UP, they behave badly.

The kids have been acting up again.

 

 

EXERCISE 3

Rewrite the sentences keeping the same meaning and using the word in CAPITALS.

 

1. My son always behaves badly when he’s bored.

ACTS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. We performed one of the plays by Shakespeare.

ACTED ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. The debate over the environment will become the most important.

STAGE ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

 

NEWS

 

A PLAY REVIEW

Have you seen the latest version of Hamlet by the Independent Warsaw Theatre? It’s definitely a must. It’s full of brilliant acting and amazing props – the skull that Hamlet talks to in his famous monologue is made of pink plastic! They performance is very innovative, perhaps even extravagant, but this is what makes it truly original and remarkable. I’m sure you will be surprised by Claudius, who wears a green bed sheet instead of rich clothes, and by Ophelia, who uses jam instead of a lipstick! The music is also fantastic, with pieces from Vangelis and Metallica played together. You have to see it!

 

GLOSSARY

– a must – something you have to do or see

– brilliant – very good

– props – small objects used by actors on stage

– remarkable – very good, special

– a bed sheet – a piece of cloth you put on your bed

 

download lesson (pdf)