How would you describe Jimmie Langton? Dwell upon his looks and typical behavior. What were the circumstances of Jimmie and Julia’s acquaintance? (Midpole)

In Midpole was a theatre with a permanent group of actors and works, which attracted a large number of people. This theater was run by Jimmy Langton. Jimmy Langton, a plump, bald man of about forty-five who looked like a well-to-do city dweller, loved the theater. They said he was a bad actor. He was intemperate and hot-headed, and although he studied his role well, they turned into a comical work. He listened to his actors perfectly, if someone was out of tune, Jimmy immediately noticed it.

"Don't be natural," he told the actors. "This is not the place on the stage. Everything here is a sham. But if you please to seem natural.

Jimmy wanted the actors to work at full capacity. In the morning, from ten to two, there was a rehearsal, and then he let the actors learn words at home and rest. There were performances in the evening. Jimmy paid his actors little, and during rehearsals he shouted at them and taunted them. But if he liked the scene, he cried like a child. And when he was angry, he threw the play on the floor and stomped on it. The actors laughed at him, scolded him, but still did everything to play as he wanted.

Julia was born in Jersey, the daughter of an ordinary veterinarian. When she grew up, she went to her aunt in Saint-Malo to study at the local Lyceum. She was like a real actress, spoke French like no other. Everyone knew that Julia would be on stage. Her aunt was acquainted with a famous actress from the Comedie Francaise, who gave her first lessons in dramatic art. She taught Julia how to articulate well, how to walk and hold herself on stage. At the age of sixteen, she went to study at the Royal Academy of dramatic art. There she had to get used to a more conversational manner of communication.

It was two years before Jimmy Langton found out about her. Julia toured as an Italian adventurer, portraying a forty-year-old woman. At this time, Jimmy was on vacation, visiting theaters. It was in this theater that he saw Julia, where he liked her. After the show was over, he went backstage to meet Julia and invited her to lunch. She couldn't refuse since he was famous. To him, Julia seemed to have a great talent that he could develop in her even more. He invited her to join his cast, as not only did she win him over with her talent, but also with her appearance. She was beautiful, she knew how to stand on stage, she had a beautiful voice that can turn the whole soul and she had a perfect memory. Jimmy promised her twenty roles a year to make her a famous actress. Julia, caught up in her enthusiasm, accepted the offer.