THE STAIRCASE OF THE OPERA HOUSE
(A gauze half conceals the tableau of guests at the opera ball.
The guests (whom we cannot yet see clearly) are in fancy dress a peacock, a lion, a dragon, Mephistopheles, a highwayman, a clown, knights, ladies, an executioner.
M. ANDRE enters.
He is dressed as a skeleton in an opera cape.
Almost immediately M. FIRMIN arrives.
He is also dressed as a skeleton in an opera cape.
The two skeletons see each other and approach nervously)
ANDRE
M'sieur Firmin?
FIRMIN
M'sieur Andre?
(Each raises his mask to the other. They recognise each
other.)
FIRMIN
Dear Andre
what a splendid party!
ANDRE
The prologue
to a bright new year!
FIRMIN
Quite a night!
I'm impressed!
FIRMIN
Well, one does
one's best . . .
ANDRE/FIRMIN (raising their glasses)
Here's to us!
FIRMIN
I must say, all the same, that it's a shame that 'Phantom'fellow isn't here!
(The gauze lifts fully to reveal the staircase of the opera house.
The opera ball begins.
Among the GUESTS are four carrying strange percussion instruments: a monkey with cymbals, a toy soldier with a drum, a triangle, bells. Together they play weirdly throughout)
CHORUS
Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade . . .
Masquerade!
Hide your face, so the world will never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade . . .
Masquerade!
Look around - there's another mask behind you!
Flash of mauve . . .
Splash of puce . . .
Fool and king . . .
Ghoul and goose . . .
Green and black . . .
Queen and priest . . .
Trace of rouge . . .
Face of beast . . .
Faces . . .
Take your turn, take a ride on the merry-go-round . . .
in an inhuman race . . .
Eye of gold . . .
Thigh of blue . . .
True is false . . .
Who is who . . .?
Curl of lip . . .
Swirl of gown . . .
Ace of hearts . . .
Face of clown . . .
Faces . . .
Drink it in, drink it up,till you've drowned in the light . . .
in the sound . . .
RAOUL/CHRISTINE
But who can name the face . . .?
ALL
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill - let the spectacle astound you!
Masquerade!
Burning glances, turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you!
Masquerade!
Seething shadows breathing lies . . .
Masquerade!
You can fool any friend who ever knew you!
Masquerade!
Leering satyrs, peering eyes . . .
Masquerade!
Run and hide - but a face will still pursue you!
(The ENSEMBLE activity becomes background, as ANDRE, FIRMIN, MEG, GIRY, PIANGI and CARLOTTA come to the fore, glasses in hand)
GIRY
What a night
MEG
What a crowd!
ANDRE
Makes you glad!
FIRMIN
Makes you proud!
All the creme
de la creme!
CARLOTTA
Watching us watching them!
MEG/GlRY
And all our fears
are in the past!
ANDRE
Six months...
PIANGI
Of relief!
CARLOTTA
Of delight!
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Of Elysian peace!
MEG/GIRY
And we can breathe at last!
CARLOTTA
No more notes!
PIANGI
No more ghost!
GIRY
Here's a health!
ANDRE
Here's a toast: to a prosperous year!
FIRMIN
To the new chandelier!
PIANGI/CARLOTTA
And may its
splendour never fade!
FIRMIN
Six months!
GIRY
What a joy!
MEG
What a change!
FIRMIN/ANDRE
What a blessed release!
ANDRE
And what a masquerade!
(They clink glasses and move off RAOUL and CHRISTINE emerge. She is admiring a new acquisition:an engagement ring from RAOUL,
which she has attached to a gold chain around her neck.)
CHRISTINE
Think of it!
A secret engagement!
Look - your future bride!
Just think of it!
RAOUL
But why is it secret?
What have we to hide?
CHRISTINE
Please, let's not fight . . .
RAOUL
Christine, you're free!
CHRISTINE
Wait till the time is right . . .
RAOUL
When will that be?
It's an engagement,
not a crime!
Christine,
What are you
afraid of?
CHRISTINE
Let's not argue . . .
RAOUL
Let's not argue . . .
CHRISTINE
Please pretend . . .
RAOUL
I can only hope I'll . . .
CHRISTINE
You will . . .
BOTH
. . . understand
in time . . .
(Dance section, in which CHRISTINE, almost coquettish almost jittery, goes from man to man.
But too many of her partners seem to be replicas of the PHANTOM, and each spins her with increasing force.
Eventually RAOUL rescues her and holds her tightly.
He whirls her back into the dance, as the music heads towards its climax.)
Back to CHORUS
