Andrew Lloyd Webber - Notes.../Prima Donna

"Mystery after gala night," if says, "Mystery
of soprano's flight!" "Mystified baffled Surete say,
we are mystified - we suspect foul play!"
(He lowers the paper) 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 bursts in, in a temper) 

Damnable! Will they all walk out? This is damnable!

Andre, please don't shout . . .It's publicity!
And the take is vast! Free publicity!

But we have no cast . . .

But Andre, have you seen the queue?
(He has been sorting mail on his desk.
Finding the two letters from the PHANTOM):
Oh, it seems you've got one too . . .
(He hands the letter to ANDRE,
who opens it and reads) 

"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!"

"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!"

Who would have the gall to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain!

These are both signed "O.G." . . .

Who the hell is he?
BOTH (immediately realizing) Opera ghost!

It's really not amusing!

He's abusing our position!

In addition he wants money!

He's a funny sort of spectre . . .

. . . to expect a large retainer! Nothing plainer -
he is clearly quite insane!
(They are interrupted by the arrival of RAOUL,
who brandishes another of the PHANTOM'S notes)

Where is she?

You mean Carlotta?

I mean Miss Daae - where is she? 

Well, how should we know?

I want an answer -
I take it that you sent me this note?

What's all this nonsense?

Of course not!

Don't look at us!

She's not with you, then?

Of course not!

We're in the dark . . .

Monsieur, don't argue - Isn't this the
letter you wrote?

And what is it, that we're meant to have wrote?
(Realizing his mistake) Written !
(RAOUL hands the note to ANDRE, who reads it)

"Do not fear for Miss Daae. The Angel of Music
has her under his wing.
Make no attempt to see her again."
(The MANAGERS look mystified)

If you didn't write it, who did?
(CARLOTTA bursts in. She too has a letter,
which has cheered her no more than the others)

Where is he?

Ah, welcome back! 

Your precious patron - where is he?

What is it now?

I have your letter - a letter which I rather resent!

And did you send it?

Of course not!

As if he would! 

You didn't send it?

Of course not!

What's going on . . .?

You dare to tell me, that this is not the letter you sent ? ! 

And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?
(RAOUL takes the letter and reads it)
"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."
(The MANAGERS are beginning lo tire of the intrigue)

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 suddenly appears, accompanied by MEG)

GIRY
Miss Daae has returned.

FIRMIN (drily)
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 (snatching it)
Please!

(Opens the letter and reads. The PHANTOM'S
voice gradually lakes 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:
(pointing an accusing finger)
The Vicomte - her lover!

RAOUL (ironical)
Indeed? (to the OTHERS)
Can you believe this?

ANDRE (to CARLOTTA, in protest)
Signora!

CARLOTTA (half to the MANAGERS,
half to herself) O traditori!

FIRMIN (to CARLOTTA)
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 (announcing it to EVERYONE)
Miss Daae will be playing the Pageboy - the silent role . . .

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Carlotta will be playing the lead!

CARLOTTA (waxing melodramatic)
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 (to MANAGERS)
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!
(ALL look at CARLOTTA,
as the MANAGERS approach her lovingly

-----------------------------------------------

ANDR'
Your public needs you!

FIRMIN
We need you, too!

CARLOTTA
Would you not
rather have your
precious little
ingenue?

ANDR'/FIRMIN
Signora, no!
The world wants you!

ANDR'/FIRMIN
Prima donna,
first lady of the stage!
Your devotees
are on their knees
to implore you!

ANDR'
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!

ANDR'
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!

ANDR'/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...

ANDR'/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...?

ANDR'
We get our opera...

FIRMIN
She gets her limelight!

CARLOTTA
Follow where the limelight
leads you!

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

RAOUL
*Angel or madman...?

ANDR'/FIRMIN
Leading ladies are a trial!

CARLOTTA
Prima donna,
your song shall never die!

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
Orders! Warnings!
Lunatic demands!

GIRY
This miscasting
will invite damnation...

ANDR'/FIRMIN
Tears...oaths...
lunatic 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...

ANDR'/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!

ANDR'/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!

ANDR'/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...

ANDR'/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 driest 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
(spoken)
So, it is to be war between us! If these
demands are not met, a disaster beyond
your imagination will occur!

ALL
Once more!