People will do anything to see a free show -- even if it is a bad one. When the news got round that a comedy show would be presented at our local cinema by the P. and U. Bird Seed Company, we all rushed to see it. We had to queue for hours to get in and there must have been several hundred people present just before the show began. Unfortunately, the show was one of the dullest we have ever seen. Those who failed to get in need not have felt disappointed, as many of the artistes who should have appeared did not come. The only funny things we heard that evening came from the advertiser at the beginning of the programme. He was obviously very nervous and for some minutes stood awkwardly before the microphone. As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone burst out laughing. We all know what the poor man should have said, but what he actually said was: 'This is the Poo and Ee Seed Bird Company. Good ladies, evening and gentlemen!"
New words and expressions 生詞和短語(yǔ)
slip n. 小錯(cuò)誤
comedy n. 喜劇
present v. 演出;adj. 出席,到場(chǎng)的
queue v. 排隊(duì)
dull adj. 枯燥,無味
artiste n. 藝人
advertiser n. 報(bào)幕員
人們總要想盡辦法看不花錢的演出——哪怕是拙劣的演出。當(dāng)“皮尤”鳥食公司將在我們當(dāng)?shù)赜霸貉莩鱿矂」?jié)目的消息傳開后,我們都趕緊跑去觀看。我們不得不排了好幾個(gè)小時(shí)才進(jìn)得場(chǎng)去。在演出開始前場(chǎng)內(nèi)肯定已有好幾百人了。不幸的是,這次演出是我們看過的最乏味的演出了。那些沒能進(jìn)到場(chǎng)內(nèi)的人沒有必要感到失望,因?yàn)楹芏鄳?yīng)該出場(chǎng)的專業(yè)演員都沒有來。那天晚上唯一有趣的事情是節(jié)目開始時(shí)那個(gè)報(bào)幕員的開場(chǎng)白。他顯然非常緊張,局促不安地在麥克風(fēng)前站了好幾分鐘。但他剛一開口說話,人們便哄堂大笑起來。我們都明白那個(gè)可憐的人應(yīng)該說些什么,而他實(shí)際說的卻是:“這是‘浦伊’鳥食公司,好女士們,晚上和先生們!”