Theatre Page 0,3

rather doubtful about it. He didn't think my part was very good. You know, it's not really a star part. But I thought I could make something out of it. Of course we had to cut the other woman a lot in rehearsals."

"I don't say we rewrote the play," said Michael, "but I can tell you it was a very different play we produced from the one the author submitted to us."

"You're simply wonderful in it," the young man said.

("He has a certain charm.") "I'm glad you liked me," she answered.

"If you're very nice to Julia I dare say she'll give you a photograph of herself when you go."

"Would you?"

He blushed again and his blue eyes shone. ("He's really rather sweet.") He was not particularly good- looking, but he had a frank, open face and his shyness was attractive. He had curly light brown hair, but it was plastered down and Julia thought how much better he would look if, instead of trying to smooth out the wave with brilliantine, he made the most of it. He had a fresh colour, a good skin and small well-shaped teeth. She noticed with approval that his clothes fitted and that he wore them well. He looked nice and clean.

"I suppose you've never had anything to do with the theatre from the inside before?" she said.

"Never. That's why I was so crazy to get this job. You can't think how it thrills me."

Michael and Julia smiled on him kindly. His admiration made them feel a little larger than life-size.

"I never allow outsiders to come to rehearsals, but as you're our accountant you almost belong to the theatre, and I wouldn't mind making an exception in your favour if it would amuse you to come."

"That would be terribly kind of you. I've never been to a rehearsal in my life. Are you going to act in the next play?"

"Oh, I don't think so. I'm not very keen about acting any more. I find it almost impossible to find a part to suit me. You see, at my time of life I can't very well play young lovers, and authors don't seem to write the parts they used to write when I was a young fellow. What the French call a raisonneur. You know the sort of thing I mean, a duke, or a cabinet minister, or an eminent K.C.* who says clever, witty things and turns people round his little finger. I don't know what's happened to authors. They don't seem able to write good lines any more. Bricks without straw; that's what we actors are expected to make nowadays. And are they grateful to us? The authors, I mean. You'd be surprised if I told you the terms some of them have the nerve to ask."

"The fact remains, we can't do without them," smiled Julia. "If the play's wrong no acting in the world will save it."

"That's because the public isn't really interested in the theatre. In the great days of the English stage people didn't go to see the plays, they went to see the players. It didn't matter what Kemble and Mrs. Siddons acted. The public went to see them. And even now, though I don't deny that if the play's wrong you're dished, I do contend that if the play's right, it's the actors the public go to see, not the play."

"I don't think anyone can deny that," said Julia.

"All an actress like Julia wants is a vehicle. Give her that and she'll do the rest."

Julia gave the young man a delightful, but slightly deprecating smile.

"You mustn't take my husband too seriously. I'm afraid we must admit that he's partial where I'm concerned."

"Unless this young man is a much bigger fool than I think him he must know that there's nothing in the way of acting that you can't do."

"Oh, that's only an idea that people have got because I take care never to do anything but what I can do."

Presently Michael looked at his watch.

"I think when you've finished your coffee, young man, we ought to be going."

The boy gulped down what was left in his cup and Julia rose from the table.

"You won't forget my photograph?"

"I think there are some in Michael's den. Come along and we'll choose one."

She took him into a fair-sized room behind the dining-room. Though it was supposed to be Michael's private sitting-room - "a fellow wants a room where he can get away by himself and smoke his pipe" - it was ch