XXII. Make up short dialogues using the following structural patterns:

now that; I wish; can't have done; may be doing

XXIII. Read the text and retell it following the points in the outline given below. Make a list of the words and word combinations in the text which you could use to develop each point:

Joseph Conrad wrote to a friend to this effect: that life made him feel like a cornered blind rat waiting to be clubbed. This simile could well describe the appalling circumstances of sour family; nevertheless, some of us had a stroke of luck, and this is what happened to me.

I had been a newsboy, printer, toymaker, glass blower, doctor's boy, etc, but changing from one job to another I never lost sight of my ultimate aim to become an actor. So between jobs I would polish my shoes, brush my clothes, put on a clean collar and make periodical calls at Blackmore's theatrical agency in Bedford Street off the Strand. I did this until the state of my clothes forbade any further visits.

One day I was standing in a far corner near the door of the agency, painfully shy, trying to conceal my weatherworn suit and shoes slightly budding at the toes, when the clerk saw me. He stopped abruptly and asked: "What do you want?"

• I felt like Oliver Twist asking for more.

• "Have you any boys' parts?" I gulped.

• "Have you registered?"

• I shook my head.

To my surprise he ushered me into the adjoining office and took my name and address and all particulars, saying that if anything

28

came up he would let me know. I left with a pleasant sense of having performed a duty, but also rather thankful that nothing had come of it.

A month later I received a postcard. It read: "Would you call at Blackmore's Agency, Bedford Street, Strand?"

In my new suit (Sidney had outfitted me with new clothes) I was ushered into the very presence of Mr. Blackmore himself, who was all smiles and amiability. Mr. Blackmore, whom I had imagined to be almighty and scrutinizing, was most kindly and gave me a note to deliver to Mr. Hamilton at the office.

Mr. Hamilton read it and was amused and surprised to see how small I was. Of course I lied about my age, telling him I was fourteen - I was twelve and a half. He explained that I was to play Billie, the pageboy in Sherlock Holmes, for a tour of forty weeks, which was to start in autumn.

"In the meantime," said Mr. Hamilton, "there is an exceptionally good boy's part in a new play, Jim, The Romance of a Cockney written by Mr. H. A. Saintsbury, the gentleman who is to play the title role in Sherlock Holmes on the forthcoming tour."

The salary was two pounds ten shillings a week, the same as I would get for Sherlock Holmes.

Although the sum was a windfall I never batted an eye.

"I must consult my brother about the terms," I said solemnly. Mr. Hamilton laughed and seemed highly amused, then brought out the whole office staff to have a look at me.

"This is our Billie! What do you think of him?"

Everybody was delighted and smiled beamingly at me. What had happened? It seemed the world had suddenly changed, had laken me into its fond embrace and adopted me. Mr. Hamilton gave me a note to Mr. Saintsbury, whom he said I would find at the Green Room Club in Leicester Square, and I left, walking on clouds.

The same thing happened at the Green Room Club, Mr. Saints bury calling out other members to have a look at me. Then and there he handed me the part of Sammy, saying that it was one of the important characters in his play. I was a little' nervous for fear he might ask me to read on the spot, which would have been embarrassing as I was almost unable to read; fortunately he told me to take it home and read it at leisure, as they would not be starting rehearsals for another week.

I went home on the bus dazed with happiness, and began to get the full realization of what had happened to me. I had suddenly left behind a life of poverty and was entering a long-desired dream - a dream my mother had often spoken about. I was to become an actor! It had all come so suddenly, so unexpectedly. I kept thumbing the pages of my part - the most important document I had ever held in my life. During the ride on the bus I realized I had crossed an important threshold. No longer was I a nondescript of the slums; now I was a personage of the theatre. I wanted to weep.

29

Sidney's eyes were filmy when I told him what had happened. He sat crouched on the bed, thoughtfully looking out of the window, shaking and nodding his head, then said gravely:

"This is the turning pcdnt of our lives. If only Mother was here to enjoy it with us."

The rehearsals of Jim took place in the upstairs foyer of the Driiry Lane Theatre. Those first rehearsals were a revelation. They opened up a new world of technique. I had no idгa that there was such a thing as stagecraft - timing, pausing, a cue to turn, to sit - but it came naturally to me. Only one fault Mr. Saintsbury corrected: I moved my head and mugged too much when I talked.

After rehearsing a few scenes he was astonished and wanted to know if I had acted before. What a glow of satisfaction, pleasing Mr. Saintsbury and the rest of the cast! However, I accepted their enthusiasm as though it were my natural birthright.

Jim was not a success. The reviewers criticized the play unmercifully. Nevertheless, I received favourable notices. One, which Mr. Charles Rock, a member of our company, showed me, was exceptionally good. "Young man," said he solemnly, "don't get a swollen head when you read this." And after lecturing me about modesty and graciousness he read the review of the London Topical Times, which I remember word for word. After writing disparagingly of the play it continued: "But there is one redeeming feature, the part of Sammy, a newspaper boy, a smart London street Arab, much responsible for the comic part. Although hackneyed and old-fashioned, Sammy was made vastly amusing by Master Charles Chaplin, a bright and vigorous child actor. I have never heard of the boy before, but I hope to hear great things of him in the near future."

Sidney bought a dozen copies.

(From "My Autobiography", by Charles Chaplin)

Outline

1. Charlie Chaplin and his brother live in extreme poverty.

2. Charlie's only wish is to become an actor.

3. Charlie at last registers at Blackmore's theatrical agency.

4. Charlie is invited to the agency for an interview. He is lucky to get a small part in a new play.

5. Charlie is dazed with happiness as he walks home. His dream is coming true.

6. The rehearsals open up a new world for Charlie.

7. The play is not a success, but Charlie's acting is highly praised in the press.