词汇：

1. conceive 设想，想象
to be conceived 设想好的，构思好的
2. under the auspices of 在……的主办下
3. meager 贫乏的，不足的
4. mount 登上，制作，上演
5. flavour 风味，风格，情趣
6. archive(s) 档案（馆）
7. distraction 使人分心的事
8. ivy 常春藤
9. mellow 柔和的
10. recourse (to) 依赖，求助于
11. drape 覆盖，披上
12. invaluable 无价的，非常贵重的
13. tunic （古时）长达膝盖的外衣，穿在盔甲上的战袍
14. chenille 绳绒绒（织品）
15. jumble 混乱，搞乱
16. pennant 细长三角旗
17. garland 花环，花冠

难句译注：

1. This sometimes means that there is an allocation of fundsavailable for the purpose of mounting the production, thoughunfortunately this will usually be found to be on the meager sideand much ingenuity will have to be used to stretch it so that allperformers can be adequately clothed.
[结构简析] 复合结构。That是主句的宾语从句，从句后再有从句。
[参考译文] 这种情况，有时就表示有一个可用于演出目的资金配额。遗憾的是配额一般都少而不足，就得动用非常之才能细细的使用金额，使所有的演员都能穿上合适的戏装。

2. Most pageants have a historical flavour as they usually come about through the celebration ofthe anniversary of some event of historic importance, or the life or death of some local worthy.
[结构简析] 主从句
[参考译文] 大多数露天演出都带有历史情调，因为这些戏一般是通过庆祝某个重大的历史事件，或庆祝当地某个值得纪念的人诞辰或逝世周年而产生的。

3. This is an entirely different problem from designing costumes which are going to be looked atunder artificial lighting; for one thing, scenes viewed in the daylight are subject to many moredistractions. No longer is everything around cut out by the surrounding darkness, but instead it isvery easy to be aware of disturbing movement in the audience of behind the performers.
[结构简析] 复合结构：主句this is后有定语从句，which修饰costumes。从句中又套从句。
[参考译文] 这和人为灯光下看的设计服装完全不一样。首先，白天看到幕景易于受许多因素影响，不再能用一片漆黑的环境把周围的一切隔开，而是相反，演员后和观众中有点纷乱的动作，很容易看到。

4. Very theatrically conceived clothes do not always look their best when seen in a daylight settingof trees, verdant lawns and old ivy-covered walls; the same goes for costumes being worn in frontof the mellow colors of stately homes.
[结构简析] 并列句，中用分号隔开。第一句中有when seen 连词+过去分词，实质起从句作用。第二句是主从句。
[参考译文] 设计出的非常具有戏剧性效果的服装，在光天化日，有树木，有绿茵茵的草地，又有爬满常春藤的古老围墙的背景下，经常看起来是不起眼：在堂皇的住宅四周一片和色调前，所穿的服装效果同样不太好。

5. If money is available to dress the performers without recourse to their own help in the provisionof items, it is best to arrange for all the cutting and pinning together of the costumes to be doneby one or two experienced people than to be given out to the groups and individuals forcompletion.
[结构简析] 条件句，主句为逻辑主句，注意中间两个被动不定式。To be done by, than to begiven out, 这里的than起连词作用。
[参考译文] 如果有钱可以为演员着装而不用求助自己供应种种物件，那么最好把所有的戏装的裁减和缝制交给一，两个有经验人去干，而不是让群体演员和单个演员去完成。

写作方法与文章大意：

文章论述露天演出的服装问题，由于露天演出不同于室内，剧院内演出，要从各个方面考虑服装问题，才能获得应有的舞台效果。作者从资金多少，地方色彩，露天，白天，颜色搭配等方面来论述服装。写法多种，有因果，对比，举例等。