Notes / Prima Donna

Lyricist:     Composer: Andrew Lloyd Webber

THE MANAGERS' OFFICE
(Desk, chairs, papers, FIRMIN is scornfully eyeing a newspaper article)

FIRMIN：Mystery after gala night," it 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)
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 (calmly)：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):
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 (reading his)：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 (examining both letters)：These are both signed "O.G."...
ANDRE：Who the hell is he?
BOTH (immediately realizing)：Opera ghost!
FIRMIN (unamused)：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!
(They are interrupted by the arrival of RAOUL, who brandishes another of the PHANTOM'S notes)
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!
(RAOUL hands the notes to ANDRE, who reads it)
ANDRE：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)
RAOUL：If you didn't write it, then who did?

(CARLOTTA bursts in. She too has a letter, which has cheered her no more than the others)
CARLOTTA：Where is he?
ANDRE：Ah, welcome back!
CARLOTTA：Your precious patron - Where is he?
RAOUL：What is it now?
CARLOTTA (to RAOUL)：I have your letter - a letter which I rather resent!
FIRMIN (to RAOUL)：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 (to RAOUL)：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?
(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 to tire of the intrigue)
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 suddenly appears, accompanied by MEG)
GIRY：Miss Daae has returned.
FIRMIN (dryly)：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!

FIRMIN (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: (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! You have replaced me!
ANDRE/FIRMIN：Signora, pardon us... Please, Signora, we beseech you...
GIRY：This hour shall see your darkest fears... The angel knows, the angel hears...
MEG/RAOUL：I must see her...
CARLOTTA：Abbandonata! Deseredata! O, sventurata! Abbandonata! Disgraziata!
RAOUL：Where did she go... ?
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)
ANDRE：Your public needs you!
FIRMIN：We need you, too!
CARLOTTA (unassuaged)：Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue?
ANDRE/FIRMIN：Signora, no! the world wants you!
(The MANAGERS adopt their most persuasive attitudes)
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!
(CARLOTTA registers her acceptance, as the MANAGERS continue to cajole and the OTHERS reflect variously on the situation)
RAOUL：Christine spoke of an angel...
CARLOTTA (to herself, in triumph)：Prima donna, your song shall live again! You took a snub, but there's a public who needs you!
Think of their cry of undying support! Follow where the limelight leads you!
ANDRE & FIRMIN (to CARLOTTA)：Think of your public!
GIRY (referring to CHRISTINE)：She has heard the voice of the angel of music...
ANDRE/FIRMIN (to CARLOTTA)：Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel!
RAOUL：Is this her angel of music... ?
ANDRE (to FIRMIN)：We get our opera...
FIRMIN (to ANDRE)：She gets her limelight!
MEG：Is this ghost an angel or a madman... ?
RAOUL：Angel or madman... ?
ANDRE/FIRMIN (aside)：Leading ladies are a trial!
CARLOTTA：Prima donna, your song shall never die! You'll sing again, and to unending ovation!
Think how you'll shine in that final encore! Sing, prima donna, once more!
MEG：Voice of hell, or of heaven... ?
GIRY：Heaven help you, those who doubt... This miscasting will invite damnation...
RAOUL：Orders! Warnings! Lunatic demands!
ANDRE/FIRMIN：Tears... oaths... lunatic demands are regular occurrences!
MEG：Bliss or damnation? Which has claimed her... ?
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!


A PERFORMANCE OF "IL MUTO" BY ALBRIZZIO
(During the overture RAOUL, ANDRE and FIRMIN take their respective seats –
RAOUL in Box Five, the MANAGERS in a box opposite)

RAOUL：Gentlemen, if you would care to take your seats? I shall be sitting in Box Five.
ANDRE：Do you really think that's wise, monsieur?
RAOUL：My dear Andre, there would appear to be no seats available, other than Box Five...


COUNTESS(CARLOTTA)：Serafimo – away with this pretence!
(She rips off SERAFIME'S skirt to reveal his manly breeches)
You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence!