They include the device, entertaining and annoying in equal measure, of periodic appearances by Michael Gambon as Julia's long-dead acting teacher, who keeps reminding her that the only reality is the theater, and anything else is fantasy.

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Chris Sale took over in September as the acting head teacher.

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The teacher began by acting out a short conversation between two hand puppets, Henrietta and Twiggle: Twiggle is sad until Henrietta shares some watermelon with him.

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