Театр

           Hecouldnotsubduehisnaturalflamboyance,andeverypartheplayed,thoughhestudieditwithcareandgaveitthought,heturnedintoagrotesque.Hebroadenedeverygesture,heexaggeratedeveryintonation.Butitwasaverydifferentmatterwhenherehearsedhiscast;thenhewouldsuffernothingartificial.Hisearwasperfect,andthoughhecouldnotproducetherightintonationhimselfhewouldneverletafalseonepassinanyoneelse.

           "Don’tbenatural,"hetoldhiscompany."Thestageisn’ttheplaceforthat.Thestageismake-believe.Butseemnatural."

           Heworkedhiscompanyhard.Theyrehearsedeverymorningfromtentilltwo,whenhesentthemhometolearntheirpartsandrestbeforetheevening’sperformance.Hebulliedthem,hescreamedatthem,hemockedthem.Heunderpaidthem.Butiftheyplayedamovingscenewellhecriedlikeachild,andwhentheysaidanamusinglineashewanteditsaidhebellowedwithlaughter.Hewouldskipaboutthestageononelegifhewaspleased,andifhewasangrywouldthrowthescriptdownandstamponitwhiletearsofragerandownhischeeks.Thecompanylaughedathimandabusedhimanddideverythingtheycouldtopleasehim.Hearousedaprotectiveinstinctinthem,sothatoneandalltheyfeltthattheycouldn’tlethimdown.Thoughtheysaidhedrovethemlikeslaves,andtheyneverhadamomenttothemselves,fleshandbloodcouldn’tstandit,itgavethemasortofhorriblesatisfactiontocomplywithhisoutrageousdemands.