英语听力精选进阶版 6032（在线收听）

Did you like the film ‘The Lord of the Rings?’ Are you a performer who can sing and dance? And most importantly, are you less than 1.7 metres tall with big, hairy feet?

If the answer is yes to all of these questions then maybe you should audition for a part in the new stage production of the musical version of the Lord of the Rings.

Hundreds of aspiring actors have descended upon London’s Theatre Royal hoping to be cast as hobbits in the new musical version of JRR Tolkien’s classic fantasy novel. The show, which will open in June 2007, will be the most expensive ever staged in London, costing an estimated ￡12.5 million.

Competition is fierce to get a part in the lavish production with actors queuing round the block just to get a few seconds to impress the audition panel.

However, the show’s producer Kevin Wallace has said that he is sure he will find some actors in the open auditions.

“From every open call I have ever done, people have ended up in the show," Mr Wallace said, "We will not go through this process and not find anyone to join the show, I am absolutely confident of that."

The Lord of the Rings musical is the latest West End show to be adapted from Hollywood movies. Theatre-goers in London can enjoy a wide variety of musicals based on films - The Producers, Mary Poppins, Dirty Dancing and Billy Elliot all began life on the silver screen.

If the trend continues, perhaps we will soon see King Kong the Musical or Spiderman’s Song and Dance Show on the London stage.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

The Lord of the Rings 指环王

hairy 有毛发的     

audition 面试, 试演  

stage production 舞台剧  

musical version 音乐剧形式  

aspiring actors 有抱负的演员   

hobbits 哈比人   

fantasy novel 幻想小说   

staged 上演 

fierce 激烈的, 猛烈的    

lavish 奢侈的, 铺张的

queuing round the block 排长队   

audition panel 评审小组

producer 制作人;制片人  

open call 公开选拔

ended up 入选   

West End show 西区剧目 

silver screen 银幕

theatre-goers 看戏的人  

trend 潮流