Day 110: Cast as the Villain
At an amateur theatre in Cherepovets, the director tells a shy accountant which part he will play in the new production.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title.
- Read the dialogue and its translation. The audio for this lesson is coming soon.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Russian audio, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio for this lesson is coming soon. For now, read the dialogue and its translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day
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A
Олег Витальевич, поздравляю: в новом спектакле вы играете Яго. Распределение ролей висит на доске.
Oleg Vitalyevich, congratulations: you're playing Iago in the new production. The cast list is up on the board.
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B
Яго? Да я на работе даже на стажёра голос повысить не могу, какой из меня злодей?
Iago? I can't even raise my voice at an intern at work, what kind of villain would I make?
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A
В этом-то всё и дело. Яго, скажем так, не кричит: он вежливо, с улыбкой губит всех вокруг.
That's exactly the point. Iago, let's say, doesn't shout: he destroys everyone around him politely, with a smile.
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B
С улыбкой... Нет, я, наверное, не справлюсь, отдайте роль Кузнецову, у него голос как у дьякона.
With a smile... No, I probably won't manage it, give the part to Kuznetsov, he's got a voice like a deacon.
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A
Кузнецов будет рычать, и зал сразу его раскусит. А вам поверят, как поверил Отелло, и в этом весь ужас.
Kuznetsov will growl, and the audience will see through him at once. But they'll believe you, the way Othello did, and that's what makes it so terrible.
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B
Спасибо, конечно... Хотя не знаю, комплимент это или нет.
Thank you, I suppose... Though I'm not sure whether that's a compliment or not.
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A
Комплимент. Попробуйте прямо сейчас: скажите мне тихо, как на планёрке, что квартальный отчёт придётся переделать.
It's a compliment. Try it right now: tell me quietly, the way you would at a staff meeting, that the quarterly report will have to be redone.
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B
Хорошо... «Игорь Семёнович, я, конечно, всё понимаю, но отчёт придётся переделать. К понедельнику».
All right... 'Igor Semyonovich, I do understand, of course, but the report will have to be redone. By Monday.'
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A
Вот! У меня аж мурашки побежали. Ничего не меняйте, и в четверг на репетицию не опоздайте.
There! That gave me goosebumps. Don't change a thing, and don't be late for rehearsal on Thursday.
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