raising the curtain; opening (of an event); start of a season
to belong to; to come under; to be affiliated with; to be subject to
lining; backing; backing up (e.g. a theory); support; bolstering
performance (of a play, opera, etc.); staging; presentation
program (musical, concert, theatrical, etc.); programme
notice; attention; observation
dressing room; green room; backstage; behind the scenes; the inside; inside affairs
to take a lot of dealing with; to be a handful
wildly different (in ability, strength, etc.); on another level; in a different league; of different heights; uneven
to destroy; to crush; to break by striking; to spoil; to ruin
direct connection; direct link
day and night; around the clock; always; constantly
diligence; industry; assiduity; hard work
overestimation; overvaluing
and so on; and so forth; et cetera; comment; criticism
to like; to love; to be fond of
misfortune; bad luck; unlucky year; critical year; (arch.) smallpox
isolation; segregation; separation; quarantine
plague bacillus (Yersinia pestis)
to knock down; to shoot down; to lop off
intelligence gathering; information gathering
by all rights; legally speaking; properly speaking
to check; to hold back; to keep at bay; to stop; to prevent; to stem
to disturb; to upset; to ruffle; to stir up; to mess up
double-headed eagle (symbol of heraldry)
ruffian; villain; peculiar person; idiosyncratic person; tricky thing; something that is more than it seems
transformation; variation; metamorphosis; modification; deformation; variety
throw; throwing; throwing event
gaudy; loud; garish; intense; harsh; extreme
stagnation; deposit; sediment; faltering; hesitation; pause