Ideal Actor Versus Real Actor

Text on the meme

IDEAL. THE ACTOR. REAL. ALE

What it means

A split-panel vintage illustration contrasts an idealized young actor in a dramatic costume with the real actor portrayed as an older, tired-looking man drinking at an alehouse. The joke is about the gap between romantic expectations of actors and the mundane reality behind the performance.

Objects

young woman in costume / молодая женщина в костюме older man in black coat / пожилой мужчина в чёрном пальто red tights / красные колготки feathered hat / шляпа с пером walking cane / трость alehouse counter / стойка питейного заведения candles / свечи metal tankard / металлическая кружка wooden sign / деревянная вывеска tree / дерево old-fashioned illustration / старинная иллюстрация