Notes/Prima Donna

[[[[NOTES:]]]]

FIRMAN
"Mystery after gala night"
It says "mystery of sopranos flight"
"mystified" all the papers say
"we are mystified we suspect foul play"

Bad news on soprano scene -
first Carlotta, now Christine!
Still, at least the seats get sold
gossip's worth its weight in gold . . .

What a way to run a business!
Spare me these unending trials!
Half your cast disappears,
but the crowd still cheers!
Opera!
To hell with Gluck and Handel -
It's a scandal that'll pack 'em in the aisles!

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 publicity!

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 chorus was entrancing,
but the dancing was a lamentable mess!"

FIRMIN
"Dear Firmin, just a brief 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!"

FIRMIN/ANDRE
Who would have the gall to send this?
Someone with a puerile 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?
(Realizing his mistake)
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 -
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
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 to 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 them about Christine!
All we've heard since we came
is Miss Daae's name . . .

GIRY
Miss Daae has returned.

FIRMIN
I trust her midnight oil
is well and truly burned.

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
Will she sing?
Will she sing?

GIRY
Here, I have a note . . .

RAOUL/CARLOTTA/ANDRE
Let me see it!

FIRMIN
Please!

(Opens the letter and reads.
The PHANTOM'S voice gradually takes over)

"Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes 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'S VOICE (taking over)
. . . 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 Countess.
The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal.
The role of the Pageboy is silent -
which makes my casting, in a word . . . ideal.

I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in
Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should
these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your
imagination will occur.

FIRMIN (taking over)
"I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, O.G."

CARLOTTA
Christine!

ANDRE
Whatever next . . .?

CARLOTTA
It's all a ploy to help Christine!

FIRMIN
This is insane . . .

CARLOTTA
I know who sent this:
The Vicomte - her lover!

RAOUL
Indeed?
Can you believe this?

ANDRE
Signora!

CARLOTTA
O traditori!

FIRMIN
This is a joke!

ANDRE
This changes nothing!

CARLOTTA
O mentitori!

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!

CARLOTTA
It's useless trying to appease me!
You're only saying this to please me!
Signori, e vero?
Non, non, non voglio udire !
Lasciatemi morire!
O 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 . . .?

CARLOTTA
You have rebuked me!

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Signora, pardon us . . .

CARLOTTA
You have replaced me!

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Please, Signora, we beseech you . . .

GIRY
This hour shall see your darkest fears . . .

MEG/RAOUL
I must see her . . .

CARLOTTA
Abbandonata!
Deseredata!
O, sventurata!

GIRY
The angel knows,
the angel hears . . .

RAOUL
Where did she go . . .?

CARLOTTA
Abbandonata!
Disgraziata!

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Signora, sing for us!
Don't be a martyr . . .

RAOUL/GIRY/MEG
What new surprises lie in store . . .?

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Our star . . .!

CARLOTTA
Non vo' cantar!

[[[[PRIMA DONNA:]]]]

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!

ANDRE/FIRMIN
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 round the theatre!

BOTH
Can you deny us the triumph in store?
Sing, prima donna, once more!

RAOUL
Christine spoke of an angel . . .

CARLOTTA
Prima donna, your song shall live again!

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Think of your public!

CARLOTTA
You took a snub,
but there's a public who needs 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!

MEG
Is this ghost an angel or a madman . . .?

RAOUL
Angel or madman . . .?

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Leading ladies are a trial!

GIRY
Heaven help you,
those who doubt . . .

CARLOTTA
You'll sing again,
and to unending ovation!

RAOUL
Orders! Warnings!
Lunatic demands!

GIRY
This miscasting will invite damnation . . .

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Tears . . . oaths . . .
Iunatic demands are regular occurrences!

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 . . .

MEG
Surely he'll strike back . . .

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Surely there'll be further scenes -
worse than this!

GIRY
Think, before these demands are rejected!

RAOUL
. . .I must see these 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 the patron?
Raoul and the soubrette, entwined in love's duet!
Although he may demur, he must have been with her!

MEG/RAOUL
Christine must be protected!

CARLOTTA
O, fortunata!
Non ancor abbandonata!

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!

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
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 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 the stage with that age old rapport!
Sing, prima donna, once more!

PHANTOM'S VOICE
So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not
met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur!

ALL
Once more!