A memorable evening
难忘的夜晚
Some years ago, the South Australian Arts Council had arranged for a theatre company to put on a play in the town of Barmera,
几年前，南澳大利亚艺术委员会为一家剧院在巴默拉镇上演戏剧做准备，
two hundred and forty kilometres from Adelaide.
这座城市距离阿德莱德240千米。
The play required the actors to eat and drink on stage throughout the performance.
戏剧需要演员们在舞台上吃喝。
When the tickets went on sale, it was announced that the audience would also be provided with food and drink as part of the entertainment.
当门票开卖，其宣布也会给观众们提供食物和饮料作为娱乐一部分。
As you'd expect, the audience turned up early on the night, determined to have a good time.
就像大家所期待的一样，观众早早现身，决定度过一个开心的时光。
Unfortunately, the food was being sent ready-made in a special truck from Adelaide, and the truck had not yet arrived.
不幸的是，食物是现成的，并从阿德莱德用一辆特种载货汽车运过来，但是车还没到。
Meanwhile, drinks were being served to the audience to keep them quiet.
同时，为了让观众安静，他们给观众提供饮料。
By nine o'clock, the manager was in despair.
九点的时候，经理陷入绝望。
He told the actors that they'd have to pretend that they were eating, and went out to announce that the play was starting.
他告诉演员们他们要假装自己的在吃东西，并出去宣布表演要开始了。
Someone threw a tomato which hit him on the neck. This was the only food anyone had seen that night. The manager retreated and the curtain rose.
一些人朝他扔西红柿。这是那晚观众见到的唯一食物。经理撤退大幕拉开。
The actors did their best, but by this time, the audience were too drunk to care.
演员们尽力了，但是那时，观众们喝的醉醺醺的，顾及不到表演。
They were making their own entertainment.
他们在自娱自乐。
The truck driver finally arrived at eleven o'clock, after a difficult journey from Adelaide.
货车司机终于在十一点的时候到了，从阿德莱德经历艰难的旅途来到这里。
Three tyres had needed replacing, and he'd had a hard time finding spares, he said.
换了三个轮胎，并且备胎很难找，他说。
Hoping to calm the audience, the theatre manager had the food passed round immediately.
剧院经理希望让观众镇定下来，所以他立即发放这些食物。
This was unwise, since by this time, the food was inedible, but it gave the audience something to throw at the actors.
这么做是不明智的，因为那个时候，食物已经不能吃了，但是观众却有东西可以砸演员了。
Although this memorable evening took place more than forty years ago, Australian actors still joke about 'going to Barmera'.
虽然这个难忘的夜晚发生在四十多年前，澳大利亚演员仍然笑着谈论“去巴默拉”。