Театр

           Hisadmirationmadethemfeelalittlelargerthanlife-size.

           "Ineverallowoutsiderstocometorehearsals,butasyou’reouraccountantyoualmostbelongtothetheatre,andIwouldn’tmindmakinganexceptioninyourfavourifitwouldamuseyoutocome."

           "Thatwouldbeterriblykindofyou.I’veneverbeentoarehearsalinmylife.Areyougoingtoactinthenextplay?"

           "Oh,Idon’tthinkso.I’mnotverykeenaboutactinganymore.Ifinditalmostimpossibletofindaparttosuitme.Yousee,atmytimeoflifeIcan’tverywellplayyounglovers,andauthorsdon’tseemtowritethepartstheyusedtowritewhenIwasayoungfellow.WhattheFrenchcallaraisonneur.YouknowthesortofthingImean,aduke,oracabinetminister,oraneminentK.C.*whosaysclever,wittythingsandturnspeopleroundhislittlefinger.Idon’tknowwhat’shappenedtoauthors.Theydon’tseemabletowritegoodlinesanymore.Brickswithoutstraw;that’swhatweactorsareexpectedtomakenowadays.Andaretheygratefultous?Theauthors,Imean.You’dbesurprisedifItoldyouthetermssomeofthemhavethenervetoask."

           "Thefactremains,wecan’tdowithoutthem,"smiledJulia."Iftheplay’swrongnoactingintheworldwillsaveit."

           "That’sbecausethepublicisn’treallyinterestedinthetheatre.InthegreatdaysoftheEnglishstagepeopledidn’tgotoseetheplays,theywenttoseetheplayers.Itdidn’tmatterwhatKembleandMrs.Siddonsacted.Thepublicwenttoseethem.