Prima Donna - Andrew Lloyd Webber
"Mystery
after gala night,"
if 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!
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!
D***able!
Will they all walk out?
This is d***able!
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?
Oh, it seems
you've got one too ..."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 postQ
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 h*** is he?
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!
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? Written !
"Do not fear for Miss Daae.
The Angel of Music
has her under his wing.
Make no attempt to see her again."
If you didn't write it, who did?
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?
"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."
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 ...
Miss Daae has returned
I trust her midnight oil
is well and truly burned.
Where precisely is she now?
I thought it best
that she went home ...She needed rest
May I see her?
No, monsieur,
she will see no-one.
Will she sing?
Will she sing?
Here, I have a note ...
Let me see it!
Please!
"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 . . ."
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.
"I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, O.G."
Christine!
Whatever next ...?
It's all a ploy to help Christine!
This is insane ...
I know who sent this:The Vicomte - her lover!
Indeed?Can you believe this?
Signora!
O traditori!This is a joke!
This changes nothing!
O mentitori!
Signora!
You are our star!
And always will be!
Signora ...
The man is mad!
We don't take orders!
Miss Daae will be playing
the Pageboy - the silent role ...
Carlotta will be playing
the lead!
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!
Who scorn his word,
beware to those ...
You have reviled me!
The angel sees,
the angel knows ...Why did Christine
fly from my arms ...?
You have rebuked me!
Signora, pardon us ...
You have replaced me!
Please, Signora,
we beseech you ...
This hour shall see
your darkest fears ...
I must see her ...
Abbandonata!
Deseredata!
O, sventurata!
The angel knows,
the angel hears ...
Where did she go ...?
Abbandonata!
Disgraziata!
Signora, sing for us!
Don't be a martyr ...What new surprises
lie in store ...?
Our star ...!
Non vo' cantar!
Your public needs you!We need you, too!
Would you not
rather have your
precious little
ingenue?
Signora, no!
the world wants you!Prima donna
first lady of the stage!
Your devotees
are on their knees
to implore you !
Can you bow out
when they're shouting
your name?
Think of how they all
adore you!
Prima donna,
enchant us once again!
Think of your muse ...And of the queues
round the theatre!
Can you deny us the triumph
in store?
Sing, prima donna, once more!
Christine spoke of an angel ...
Prima donna
your song shall live again
You took a snub
but there's a public
who needs you!
She has heard the voice
of the angel of music
Those who hear your voice
liken you to an angel!
Think of their cry
of undying
support !
Is this her angel of music ...?
We get our opera She gets her limelight!
Follow where the limelight
leads you!
Is this ghost
an angel or a madman ...?
Angel or madman ...?
Leading ladies are a trial!
Heaven help you,
those who doubt ...
You'll sing again,
and to unending
ovation!
Orders! Warnings!
Lunatic demands!
This miscasting
will invite damnation ...Tears ... oaths ...
Iunatic demands
are regular occurrences!
Bliss or damnation?
Which has claimed her ...?
Think how you'll shine
in that final encore!
Sing, prima donna,
once more!
Oh fools, to have flouted his warningsSurely, for her sake ...
Surely he'll strike back ...Surely there'll be further scenes -
worse than this!
Think, before
these demands are rejected!
... I must see
these demands are rejected!
... if his threats
and demands are rejected
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!
Christine must be protected!
, fortunata!
Non ancor
abbandonata!
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!
His game is overThis is a game
you cannot hope to win!
And in Box Five
a new game will begin ...For, if his curse is on this opera ...
But if his curse is on this opera ...
Prima donna
the world is at your feet!
A nation waits,
and how it hates
to be cheated!
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!
... then I fear the outcome ...
Christine plays the Pageboy,
Carlotta plays the Countess ...
... should you dare to ...... when you once again ...
Light up the stage
with that age old
rapport!
Sing, prima donna,
once more!
So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not met, a
disaster
beyond your
imagination will occur!
Once more!
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