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
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