05 Stage Fright

Chapter five, stage fright. Why do you need a boy who's a brilliant reader? Annie asked the man. Because I have just lost two fairies, he said. He pointed at Jack. You can read both. And you are nuts, thought Jack. Well, bye, see you around, he said. He nudged Annie to move along. Wait, wait, she said. She turned to the man. What do you mean my brother can read both fairies? Read them where?

第五章 怯场 你为什么要找一个特别会朗读的男孩呀？ 安妮问那个男人。 因为我刚损失了两个演小精灵的演员，他说。 他指了指杰克。 你两个角色都能读。 你疯了吧，杰克心里想。 那个，再见啦，回头见，他说。 他轻轻推了推安妮让她往前走。 等等，等一下，她说。 她转向那个男人。 你说我哥哥两个小精灵的角色都能读是什么意思呀？ 在哪里读呀？

"'Two boy actors didn't show up today to play fairies,' said the man. "'But your brother reads with such expression. He can save us all.' Jack stared. Was this guy saying what he thought he was saying? "'You mean you want Jack to be in your play?' said Annie. "'Indeed,' said the man. "'There are three thousand people here today waiting to see the play I have written. We cannot disappoint them, can we?' "'Three thousand?' said Jack. "'Yes,' said the man. "'And one of them is the most important person in the world.' "'No, no way. I can't do that,' said Jack. He had never liked being on stage. He always got stage fright. "'Wait, wait, Jack,' said Annie. She turned to the man. "'You need two fairies, right?'

“今天两个演小精灵的男孩演员没来，”那个男人说。 “但你哥哥朗读的时候特别有感情。 他能救我们大家的急。” 杰克瞪大了眼睛。 这家伙说的话和他脑补的是一个意思吗？ “你是说你想让杰克参演你的戏剧吗？”安妮说。 “没错，”那个男人说。 “今天有三千人在这里等着看我写的这部戏。 我们总不能让他们失望吧，对不对？” “三千人？”杰克说。 “对呀，”那个男人说。 “而且其中还有全世界最重要的一位大人物呢。” “不行，绝对不行。 我做不到的，”杰克说。 他从来都不喜欢上台表演。 他总是会怯场。 “等等，等一下杰克，”安妮说。 她转向那个男人。 “你需要两个演小精灵的演员，对不对？”

Yes, said the man. Well? Annie tilted her head. Her voice went up. I can read, too. Yes, let Annie do it, said Jack. She's a great reader. She can be both fairies. Ah, but of course Annie cannot go on stage, the man said kindly. Why not? asked Annie. The man raised his eyebrows. Surely you know it's against the law for girls to go on the stage, he said. Boys must play all the girls' parts. But that's not fair, said Annie. Indeed it is not, but we cannot change the law now, said the man. He turned to Jack. So Jack, will you join our players? No thanks, said Jack. He tried to walk off, but Annie grabbed his arm.

是的，那个男人说。 那又怎样？ 安妮歪了歪脑袋。 她的声音拔高了一点。 我也会朗读呀。 对呀，让安妮来吧，杰克说。 她朗读可棒了。 她两个小精灵的角色都能演。 哎呀，但是安妮当然不能上台呀，那个男人温和地说。 为什么不行呀？ 安妮问道。 那个男人挑了挑眉毛。 你肯定知道女孩子上台表演是违法的吧，他 说道。所有女性角色都必须由男孩来演。 但这不公平呀，安妮说。 确实不公平，但我们现在没法改变法律呀，那个男人说。 他转向杰克。 所以杰克，你愿意加入我们的演员队伍吗？ 不了谢谢，杰克说。 他试图走开，但安妮抓住了他的胳膊。

Wait, I think I know what Jack wants," she said to the man. He will only be in your play if I can be in it too. No, that's not what I want, Annie, Jack said under his breath. But, Jack, it would be so much fun, she whispered, and there's nothing to be afraid of. You get to read your part. You don't have to memorize it. Jack could tell that Annie really, really wanted to be in the play, and it was definitely a way to keep her mind off the bear. Okay, he said sighing. He looked at the man. I'll be in your play, if Annie can be in it too. The man looked at Annie. She smiled eagerly at him. The man smiled back.

等等，我知道杰克想要什么啦，”她对那个男人说。 只有我也能参演，他才愿意出演你的戏。 才不是，我才不是这么想的，安妮，杰克压低声音说。 可是杰克，这会超好玩的呀，她小声说，而且一点都不可怕的。 你只要念你的台词就行。 你不用背台词的。 杰克看得出来安妮真的真的很想参演这部戏，而且这绝对是 一个能让她不再惦记那只熊的好办法。 好吧，他叹着气说。 他看向那个男人。 如果安妮也能参演的话，我就出演你的戏。 那个男人看向安妮。 她眼巴巴地对着他笑。 那个男人也对她笑了笑。

Why not?" he said. But Annie will have to pretend to be a boy. She can tuck up her hair, and we'll call her Andy. "'Yay, thanks!' said Annie with a grin. A trumpet blasted inside the theatre. Hark! The play begins !" the man said. He took Jack and Annie by the hand. "'My name is Will, by the way,' he said. Come along, Jack and Andy. Be as swift as shadows."

为什么不呢？”他说。 不过安妮得假装成男孩子才行。 她可以把头发掖起来，我们就叫她安迪。 “耶，太谢谢你啦！”安妮笑着说。 剧院里传来一阵嘹亮的小号声。 听！ 戏剧开演啦！”那个男人说。 他牵起杰克和安妮的手。 “对啦，我叫威尔，”他说。 跟我来吧，杰克和安迪。 要像影子一样快哦。”