ACT 2:



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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.)

ALL

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!

Masquerade!

Burning glances,

turning heads . . .

Masquerade!

Stop and stare

at the sea of smiles

around you!

Masquerade!

Grinning yellows,

spinning reds . . .

Masquerade!

Take your fill -

let the spectacle

astound you