Because they speak the language so beautifully, the English invasion of actors is a fact of Broadway life. Somehow, they appear to be better classically trained in repertory theater and they project their voices clearly to the last row in the balcony. Thank Mr. Shakespeare!

About three years ago Lorraine and I got tickets for an August Strindberg play called Dance of Death. At the time I was taking a theater course with Professor Harry Carlson at Queens College. Professor Carlson is a theater director and also an expert on Scandinavian Theater (Ibsen and Strindberg) and film (Ingmar Bergmann). We attended the play with the professor and Stan and Claire Howard, two brilliant students in the class.

The play featured the world-famous actors Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen. They played a married couple who detested each other and sought to destroy each other. The playwright Strindberg had several unhappy marriages and the action on stage between the couple was brutal. The dialogue seethed with hate.

Helen Mirren played the shrewish hag of a wife who battled and undermined her husband, a Swedish Officer, played by the inimitable Ian McKellen. It was truly a Dance of Death.

After the performance, several of the actors in the play returned to the stage and discussed the drama. The question-and-answer session between the actors and the audience gave much insight into each actor's motivation and reasons for their role. Professor Carlson added his considerable knowledge during this extraordinary session.

Suddenly, and with a great flourish, Helen Mirren arrived on the stage. She was beautiful and radiant, even after playing the ugly, nagging and scolding crone. Her easy English manner captured the hearts of the playgoers who remained after the show.

A lady in the audience posed a question to her that was profound. "How can you be so calm, refreshed and beautiful after your role as that horrible woman?" She smiled coyly and stated - "It's only a craft! (she pronounced it crahft). It's only a craft!"

The English actors are well-trained and understand the nuance of acting. Yet, they are also just workers doing a job.

When I see the pretentious James Lipton fawning over highly paid, over-inflated American actors at the New School and praising them to the skies, I remember the words of Helen Mirren, "It's only a craft."