Inside the theater, it's warm like spring, and outside the theater, it's cold winter.

Walking all the way to the outdoors along the backstage passage, the biting cold wind and freezing cold air hit the face, and the limbs that had warmed up a little on the stage stiffened again in an instant. Methodically put on his coat, took his scarf and gloves in his hand, left the alley, and returned to the main street, still reminiscing about the audition just now, stunned for a moment, and suddenly shivered, and then came back to his senses.

Looking left and right, taking out his mobile phone from his pocket, and was about to call Nathan, there was a greeting from the direction of the theater door, "Lan Li?" reflexively came back to his senses, and then he saw John Cord's old pedantic figure, a large dark blue trench coat, tightly wrapped, a beige checked scarf hanging around his neck, still playing with the tan topper hat in his hand, and walked quickly down the theater steps, saying hello while stepping forward.

Time flashed in an instant, and it seemed to go back to five years ago, when I was still studying at the Royal Academy of Drama. This was the case with John Cord at the time, the same trench coat, the same scarf, the same hat, and the tall, dark blue figure that led them from stage to academy all winter, and nothing seems to have changed to this day.

"How's it going? How's it going? Winter in London is terrible. "The first thing Londoners do when they meet is complain about the weather. John wrapped his scarf around casually, "I can guarantee that the weather in the United States will never be like this." ”

"There's more to America than California. "Spit about the weather, this is also Lanli's specialty. Winter in New York is no less than in London. "Why are you here today?" Lan Li looked back at the theater behind him, today was the audition for the movie version of "Les Miserables", if he guessed correctly, this should be an internal audition, and outsiders are not allowed to enter.

"It's not Buckingham Palace. John waved his hand nonchalantly, and said something shocking lightly, but it made people laugh, "Is there any difference between the Hollywood adaptation and the current West Side version? I watched it for a few hours today, and I didn't see it, if so, why adapt a movie version? Wouldn't it be better to let people come to the West End or Broadway?"

The typical theater practitioner is extremely repulsive to movies, but also extremely passionate about theater, and after all, he still hopes that people can return to the theater.

"Make money. Lan Li snapped his fingers, and the play can only be staged in a fixed theater, but the movie can be distributed all over the world. The concise and clear sentence immediately made John choke, and shook his head helplessly, "Yes, who can resist the charm of money? ”

As he spoke, a drizzle began to fall in the sky, and the dripping rain fell on his cheeks, and the slightest chill ran down the pores into the blood. However, the pedestrians on the street were not in a hurry, no one opened their umbrellas, and no one ran away in a hurry, at most they just buttoned up their coats, and they all kept their original pace and continued to move forward.

Lan Li and John were not in a hurry, but John raised his head to look at the layers of clouds overhead, and pointed to the right with his right elbow, "At this time, a cup of afternoon tea is really good, how about it, together?"

Obviously, John's appearance in the theater today is not a random event, so afternoon tea is not a random invitation. Lan Li smiled and nodded, "My honor." Then he walked side by side with John, took a step, and took over the conversation with ease, "Is the afternoon tea on the next street still open?"

The West End is nominally the "West End", but the location is actually the very center of London now, from the bustling Oxford Street business district, Buckingham Palace, Regent's Park, Westminster Abbey and other famous landmarks are all within walking distance, there are bustling streets full of tourists, but also there are local can only find the bourgeois lanes, the real Londoners, always know how to spend a perfect weekend in the West End without being disturbed by tourists.

"Which one?

"No, the Indian one. ”

"Jesus Christ, which one do you like?"

"No, the flower tea of that family is really unpalatable, and it left an indelible impression on me. If we're heading to that one now, I'd recommend going to Costa first and buying a takeaway drink. ”

Costa is actually the same as Starbucks, a fast take-out coffee chain, but Costa originated in Italy, their coffee beans are more excellent, and in the UK, Costa has a higher market share than Starbucks. But for a truly traditional British, whether it's Costa or Starbucks, it's not the right choice for coffee.

Using the coffee family to make a comparison, Lan Li's complaint can be seen.

"If it were me, I would have chosen to commit suicide. That's John's answer, "The Indian one has moved away, presumably out of business." A street further on, towards Piccadilly Circus, where a new English afternoon tea has opened. Young style, but the refreshments were good, and most importantly quiet enough. ”

Talking and walking, bathed in the British style of wind and drizzle, vividly interpreting the mystery of "wind and rain cold on the face", finally enter the room, take off the coat, wipe off the rainwater, sit down, wait for the afternoon tea to be served, the body gradually warms up again, the noise outside the window and the tranquility of the room are in stark contrast, the muscles and nerves gradually relax, comfortable and idle.

"A piece of candy?" Lan Li asked, in the past, John always chose a piece of sugar when drinking tea, and then added milk.

But this time, Lan Li saw John shake his head and make a "two" gesture, Lan Li didn't say anything, just showed a smile, licked two candies for John's teacup, and then listened to John say, "As I get older, the taste has begun to sweeten." ”

"A candy was just three years ago. Lan Li quipped.

John was not unfazed, "For young people, three years is just a blink of an eye, but for old people, three years is a long time." ”

Lan Li raised his eyebrows, "I thought that this sentence should be said in reverse." ”

John blinked, choked, and stiffly changed the subject, "Today's performance on stage, it seems that your basic skills have not been left behind. Lan Li smiled dumbly, but he didn't pierce the teacher, nodded in affirmation, "But the overall expression is still too subtle, and the sense of the camera of the movie has not been dropped, this set is not applicable on the stage." ”

"The audition just now was for the movie version. Lan Li explained, "There are cameras under the stage that are recording. All the whole show was slightly closed. ”

John suddenly realized and gently closed his chin, "I didn't expect to be able to learn something in Hollywood, it's really an accident." It seems that in the final analysis, actors are still the most important link. ”

"Mr. Cord, are you praising me?" Lan Li looked at him with eye level. Only three months ago, when the two reunited, John was still picky and disgusting, thinking that Lan Li had left behind the basics. Today, however, the situation seems to have changed slightly.

John's right hand holding the black tea couldn't help but pause, then looked at Lan Li, rolled his eyes, and said angrily, "So are you ready to celebrate now?"

"No, but at least have fun. The smile on the corner of Lan Li's mouth outlined, and at the same time he picked up his teacup, no sugar, no milk, this is the only way for him to enjoy English afternoon tea, "We're sitting here now, you shouldn't have come to praise my performance in the audition just now, right?"

"What, are you still disgusted?" John's eyes widened, holding the teacup, with an angry look of King Kong, but the thin body and scholarly temperament are really not domineering, "Although you have not lost your basic skills, you still need to continue to polish and polish your stage sense." John then returned to the main topic and said seriously, "The role of Anjola is not a big challenge for you, and the use of stage space and the emotional mobilization of the audience are all good. How's it going, are you ready to take on more difficult roles?"

"Macbeth, or Hamlet?" Lan Li said sincerely.

"Les Miserables" is indeed excellent, unquestionable, and the best of the best, but for every British academic actor, it is a lifelong dream to play William Shakespeare. Unfortunately, the theatre industry is in a state of incomparably low state, and the chances of Shakespeare returning to the stage are gradually decreasing.

John also smiled, as if he couldn't agree with Lan Li's answer, but the words he said were another choice, "Jean-Argent." ”

As a producer, John Cord has always been bold and meticulous, daring to break the shackles of tradition while respecting cultural heritage, and can often collide with different sparks.

When Lambie was still in college, John rehearsed a play called "Hamlet's Sonnet", which connects all the famous works of Shakespeare's peak from Hamlet's perspective, and travels through different story scripts, trying to explore different factors such as family, life and society, which permeates Shakespeare's creation in different periods.

After the drama was launched, it was well received. On the occasion of Lan Li's graduation, rumours were that a foundation was trying to invest in the play and bring it to the stage in London's West End.

Today, John is once again showing his audacity and madness. Of course, the premise is that he also sent John the two audition videos of Epenny and Shawei before Lan Li, and then the audition for Anjola just now. Lan Li fully demonstrated his strength, while John made an accurate judgment.

"But. "There's always a twist at any critical moment, and today is no exception," I still need to go back and talk to the whole creative team and get the sponsors' approval. I'll try to convince them, but, the first question is, are you interested?"

Jean-Argent. This is the role that Lan Li is eager to challenge, and it is also the new limit that Lan Li is eager to meet, not only is there no possibility of refusal, but also embraces with open arms and enthusiasm. However, before he made his statement, Lan Li's focus shifted slightly.