Театр

           OfcoursetherewasnoneedtotellCharlesthatherheartachednotforlostopportunities,butbecauseayoungmanseemedtopreferplayinggolfwithhersontomakinglovetoher.

           ButthenJuliaandArchieDextergottogether.Afterdinnerwhentheywereallsittinginthedrawing-room,withoutwarning,startingwithafewwordsofnaturalconversationtheyburst,asthoughtheywerelovers,intoajealousquarrel.Foramomenttherestdidnotrealizeitwasajoketilltheirmutualaccusationsbecamesooutrageousandindecentthattheywereconsumedwithlaughter.ThentheyplayedanextemporesceneofanintoxicatedgentlemanpickingupaFrenchtartinJermynStreet.Afterthat,withintenseseriousness,whiletheirlittleaudienceshookwithlaughter,theydidMrs.AlvinginGhoststryingtoseducePastorManders.Theyfinishedwithaperformancethattheyhadgivenoftenenoughbeforeattheatricalpartiestoenablethemtodoitwitheffect.ThiswasaChekhovplayinEnglish,butinmomentsofpassionbreakingintosomethingthatsoundedexactlylikeRussian.Juliaexercisedallhergreatgiftfortragedy,butunderlineditwithafarcicalemphasis,sothattheeffectwasincrediblyfunny.Sheputintoherperformancetherealanguishofherheart,andwithherlivelysenseoftheridiculousmadeamockofit.Theaudiencerolledaboutintheirchairs;theyheldtheirsides,theygroanedinanagonyoflaughter.PerhapsJuliahadneveractedbetter.ShewasactingforTomandforhimalone.