A man called James Langton was running a repertory theatre at Middlepool

That was attracting a good deal of attention; and after Michael had been with

Benson for three years, when the company was going to Middlepool on its

Annual visit, he wrote to Langton and asked whether he would see him.

Jimmie Langton, a fat, bald-headed, rubicund man of forty-five, who looked

Like one of Rubens' prosperous burghers, had a passion for the theatre. He

Was an eccentric, arrogant, exuberant, vain and charming fellow. He loved

Acting, but his physique prevented him from playing any but a few parts,

Which was fortunate, for he was a bad actor.

He could not subdue (он не мог подавить) his natural flamboyance (свою

природную: «натуральную» чрезмерную пышность /манер/), and every part he

played (и каждую роль, которую он играл), though he studied it with care (хотя

он и изучал ее тщательно; with care — с заботой, тщательно, осторожно)

and gave it thought (и обдумывал ее), he turned into a grotesque (он превращал:

«поворачивал» в гротеск). He broadened every gesture (он утрировал:

«расширял» каждое движение), he exaggerated every intonation (он

преувеличивал каждую интонацию). But it was a very different matter (но /это

было/ совершенно другое дело) when he rehearsed his cast (когда он

репетировал со своим актерским составом; cast — театр. распределение

ролей, список действующих лиц и исполнителей); then he would suffer nothing

artificial (тогда он не терпел ничего фальшивого; to suffer — страдать,

испытывать, терпеть, artificial — искусственный, поддельный). His ear was

perfect (у него был совершенный слух), and though he could not produce the

right intonation himself (и, хотя он не мог воспроизвести правильную

интонацию сам) he would never let a false one pass (он никогда не позволял

фальшивой /интонации/ проскользнуть; to pass — идти, проходить,

проезжать) in anyone else (у кого-либо еще).

"Don't be natural (не будьте естественными; natural — природный,

натуральный, прирожденный)," he told his company (говорил он своей

труппе). "The stage isn't the place for that (на сцене этому не место: «сцена не

место для этого»). The stage is make-believe (сцена — это фантазия; make-

believe — притворство, выдумка, «понарошку»). But seem natural (но

кажитесь естественными)."

subdue [sqb'dju:] flamboyance [flxm'bOIqns] grotesque [grqV'tesk]

gesture ['dZestSq] artificial ["Q:tI'fIS(q)l]

He could not subdue his natural flamboyance, and every part he played,

Though he studied it with care and gave it thought, he turned into a grotesque.

He broadened every gesture, he exaggerated every intonation. But it was a