Notes? / Prima Donna-Simon Lea

Notes/Prima Donna FIRMIN: "Mystery after gala night," It says, "mystery of soprano's flight!" "Mystified," baffled Surete say, "We are mystified -- we suspect foul play!" Bad news on soprano scene -- First carlotta, now christine! Ah, but still at least the seats get sold -- Gossip's worth its weight in gold ... Diva tenders resignation! Cover does a moonlight flit! Half your cast disappears, But the crowd still cheers! Opera! To hell with Gluck and Handel -- Have a scandal and you're sure to have a hit! ANDRE: Damnable! Will they all walk out? This is damnable! FIRMIN: Andre, please don't shout ... It's publicity! And the take is vast! Free public ity! ANDRE: But we have no cast ... FIRMIN: But Andre, Have you seen the queue? Oh, it seems you've got one too ... ANDRE: "Dear Andre, what a charming gala! Christine enjoyed a great success! We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left -- Otherwise, the c horus was entrancing, But the dancing was a lamentable mess!" FIRMIN: "Dear Firmin, just a quick reminder: My salary has not been paid. Send it care of the ghost, By return of post -- P.T.O.: No one likes a debtor, So it's better if my orders are obeyed!" BOTH: Who would have the gall to send this? Someone with a peurile brain! FIRMIN: These are both signed "O.G." ... ANDRE: Who the hell is he? BOTH: "Opera ghost!" FIRMIN: It's really not amusing! ANDRE: He's abusing our position! FIRMIN: In addition he wants money! ANDRE: He's a funny sort of spectre ... BOTH: ... to expect a large retainer! Nothing plainer -- He is clearly quite insane! RAOUL: Where is she? ANDRE: You mean Carlotta? RAOUL: I mean, Miss Daae -- where is she? FIRMIN: Well, how should we know? RAOUL: I want an answer -- I take it that you sent me this note? FIRMIN: What's all this nonsense? ANDRE: Of course not! FIRMIN: Don't look at us! RAOUL: She's not with you, then? FIRMIN: Of course not! ANDRE: We're in the dark ... RAOUL: Monsieur, don't argue -- Isn't this the letter you wrote? FIRMIN: And what is it that we're meant to have wrote? Written! ANDRE: "Do not fear for Miss Daae. The Angel of Music has her under his wing. Make no attempt to see her again." RAOUL: If you didn't write it, who did? CARLOTTA: Where is he? ANDRE: Ah, welcome back! CARLOTTA: Your precious patron -- CARLOTTA/PIANGI: Where is he? RAOUL: What is it now? CARLOTTA: I have your letter -- A letter which i rather resent! FIRMIN: And did you send it? RAOUL: Of course not! ANDRE: As if he would! CARLOTTA/PIANGI: You didn't send it? RAOUL: Of course not! FIRMIN: What's going on ... - CARLOTTA: You dare to tell me That this is not the letter you sent?! RAOUL: And what is it that I'm meant t o have sent? "Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune, should you attempt to take her place." ANDRE/FIRMIN: Far too many notes for my taste -- And most of the m about christine! All we've heard since we came, is Miss Daae's name ... GIRY: Miss Daae has returned. FIRMIN: In which case, I think our meeting is adjourned. ANDRE: Where precisely is she now? GIRY: I thought it best that she went home ... MEG: She needed rest. RAOUL: May I see her? GIRY: No, monsieur, she will see no one. CARLOTTA/PIANGI: Will she sing? Will she sing? GIRY: Here, I have a note ... RAOUL/CARLOTTA/ANDRE: Let me see it! FIRMIN: Please! "Gentlemen, I have now sent you several not es of the most amiable nature, Detailing how my theatre is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance ... " PHANTOM: ... shall give you one last chance ... Christine Daae has returned to you, And i am anxious her career should progress. In the new production of "Il Muto", you will therefore cast Carlotta as the Pageboy, And put miss daae in the role of the countess. The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal. The role of the Pageboy is silent -- whic h makes my casting, in a word, ideal. I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, Which will be kept open for me. Should these commands be ignored, A disaster beyond your imagination will occur ... FIRMIN: "... I remain, gentlemen, you r obedient servant, O.G." MEG: Christine ... Christine. CARLOTTA: Christine! ANDRE: Whatever next ... ? CARLOTTA/PIANGI: It's all a ploy to help Christine! FIRMIN: This is insane ... CARLOTTA: I know who sent this The Vicomte -- her lover! RAOUL: In deed? Can you believe this? ANDRE: Signora! PIANGI: How can you do this? CARLOTTA: I am unwanted! FIRMIN: This is a joke! ANDRE: This changes nothing! CARLOTTA: I am unwelcome! FIRMIN: Signora! ANDRE: You are our star! FIRMIN: And always will be! ANDRE: Signora ... FIRMIN: The man is mad! ANDRE: We don't take orders! FIRMIN: Miss Daae will be playing the Pageboy -- the silent role ... ANDRE/FIRMIN: Carlotta will be playing the lead! PIANGI: You don't deserve her! CARLOTTA: It's useless trying to appease me! PIANGI: Appease her -- CARLOTTA: You're only saying this to please me! PIANGI: To please her -- CARLOTTA: I will not listen! You thus insult the honour of your prima donna? CARLOTTA/PIANGI: Padre mio! Dio! GIRY: Who scorn his word, beware to those ... CARLOTTA: You have reviled me! GIRY: The angel sees, the angel knows ... RAOUL: Why did Christine fly from my arms ... ? MEG: Christine ... CARLOTTA: You have rebuked me! ANDRE/FIRMIN: Signora, pardon us ... CARLOTTA: You have rep laced me! ANDRE/FIRMIN: Please, Signora we beseech you ... GIRY: This hour shall see your darkest fears ... MEG/RAOUL: I must see her ... CARLOTTA/PIANGI: This is uncalled -for for! This is unfounded! This is unheard of! GIRY: The angel knows, the ange l hears ... RAOUL: Where did she go? CARLOTTA: You are unthinking! You are unfeeling! PIANGI: They are unthinking. They are unfeeling. ANDRE/FIRMIN: Signora, sing for us! Don't be a martyr ... RAOUL/GIRY/MEG: What new surprises lie in store ... ? ANDR E/FIRMIN: Our star! CARLOTTA/PIANGI: You go too far! ANDRE: Your public needs you! FIRMIN: We need you, too! CARLOTTA: Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue? ANDRE/FIRMIN: Signora, no! the world wants you! Prima donna, first lady of the stage! Your devotees are on their knees to implore you! ANDRE: Can you bow out when they're shouting your name? FIRMIN: Think of how they all adore you! BOTH: Prima donna, enchant us once again! ANDRE: Think of your muse ... FIRMIN: And of the queues of the theatre! BOTH: Can you deny us the triumph in store? Sing, prima donna, once more! RAOUL: Christine spoke of an angel ... CARLOTTA: You took a snub But there's a public who need you! GIRY: She has heard the voice of the angel of music ... ANDRE/FIRMIN: Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel! CARLOTTA: Think of their cry of undying support! RAOUL: Is this her angel of music ... ? ANDRE: We get our opera ... FIRMIN: She gets her limelight! CARLOTTA: Follow where the limelight leads you! PIANGI: The limelight once again shall shine upon her. MEG: Is this ghost an angel or madman ... ? RAOUL: Angel or madman ... ? ANDRE/FIRMIN: Leading ladies are a trial! CARLOTTA: Prima donna, your song shall never die! PIANGI: When she sings we see heaven MEG: Voice of hell, or of heaven ... ? GIRY: Heaven help you, those who doubt ... CARLOTTA: You'll sing again, and to an unending ovation! RAOUL: Order! Warnings! Lunatic demands! GIRY: This miscasting will invite damnation ... ANDRE/FIRMIN: Tears ... oaths ... lunatic demands are regular occurrences! PIANGI: Unending ovation now and always ... MEG: Bliss or damnation? Which has claimed her? CARLOTTA: Think how you'll shine in that final encore! Sing, prima donna, once more! GIRY: Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings! RAOUL: Surely, for her sake ... PIANGI: Surely heads will roll ... MEG: Surely he'll strike back ... ANDRE/FIRMIN: Surely there'll be further scenes - worse than this! GIRY: Think, before those demands are rej ected! RAOUL: ... I must see these demands are rejected! PIANGI: If his threats and demands are rejected. MEG: ... if his threats and demands are rejected! ANDRE/FIRMIN: Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve a chorus girl, Who's gone and slept with her patron? Raoul and his soubrette, entwined in love's duet! Although he may demur, he must have been with her! MEG/RAOUL: Christine must be protected! PIANGI/GIRY: Honour must be protected! CARLOTTA: Deposed! Rejected! Reappraised and re-elected? ANDRE/FIRMIN: You'd never get away with all this in a play, But if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue, It's just the sort of story audiences adore, in fact, a perfect opera! RAOUL: His game is over! PIANGI: Their game is over! GIRY: This is a game you cannot hope to win! RAOUL: And in Box Five a new game will begin ... GIRY: For, if his curse is on this opera ... MEG: But if his curse is on this opera ... ANDRE/FIRMIN: Prima donna, the world is at your feet! A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated! CARLOTTA/PIANGI: The stress that falls upon a famous prima donna! Terrible diseases, coughs and colds and sneezes! Still, the dryest throat will reach the highest note, In search of a perfect opera! MEG/GIRY: ... then I fear the outcome ... RAOUL: Christine plays the Pageboy, Carlotta plays the Countess ... GIRY: ... should you dare to ... MEG: ... when you once again ... ALL: Light up that stage with that age-old rapport! Sing, prima donna, once more! PHANTOM: So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your Imagination will occur! ALL: Once more!