1. What kind of building is this?
This building is a theater.
2. How many balconies are on the left side?
There are four balconies on the left side.
3. Who is sitting in the balcony?
People in the audience (spectators) are sitting in the balcony.
4. Are the first two rows full?
It looks like the first two rows are full.
5. Are the spectators watching a film or a play?
The spectators are watching a play.
6. Can you also watch an opera in this theater?
Yes, you can also watch an opera in this theater.
7. How many people are on stage?
There are two people on stage.
8. Are the actors performing a German, French, or Spanish play?
The actors are probably performing a Spanish play.
9. Who is playing a guitar?
The man is playing a guitar.
10. Does the scene take place inside or outside?
The scene takes place outside.
11. Is that a real moon in the background?
No, it is not a real moon in the background. It is an artificial (fake) moon.
12. Where does the orchestra sit?
The orchestra sits in the orchestra pit, located in front of the stage.
13. Is the man playing a piano or an organ?
The man is playing an organ.
14. During the intermission, what hangs before the stage?
During the intermission, a curtain hangs before the stage.
15. What is listed in a program?
In the program is a list of the actors/actresses, the director and his crew, and the stage hands.
16. Do you buy an admission ticket before or after the performance?
You buy an admission ticket before the performance.
17. When do the spectators applaud?
The spectators applaud at the end of the play or opera.
18. Does the picture show a city theater or a school stage?
The picture shows a city theater, not a school stage.
19. Where do you prefer to sit in a theater?
I prefer to sit near the front of a theater.
20. What is the name of an American play?
The name of an American play is “Our American Cousin.” It is the play that Abraham Lincoln was watching when he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.
Paragraph: An Evening at the Theater
Write a brief paragraph about going to see a play. What play did you see (would you like to see)? What kind of people attended the play? How did you like it?
When I was in high school, I went on a class trip to downtown Chicago to see the play “Waiting for Godot.” The theater was not a very large one, but it was located near the lake and it seemed like a nice place. The theater did not sell concessions, or snacks, so we had to bring a sack lunch and eat it on the school bus after we had seen the play. The performance that we attended was during the day, and so the audience was mostly other high school kids who were also on a class trip to watch the play.
I thought that the play was very strange. It was about two old men who did nothing all day except wait for Godot. Godot never showed up (“showed up” = came), and so we never found out who Godot was, why he was important, or why the old men in the play were waiting for him. The play was too avant-garde for me, and I would prefer to see a play where the plot made more sense.