Scene 9

The Performance of 'Il Muto' by Albrizzio

Raoul, Andre and Firmin take their respective seats - Raoul in Box 5, the managers in the box opposite  -Arrogantly

Raoul    Andre  Raoul

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

 

 

She rips off Serafimo's skirt to reveal his manly breeches                    Suddenly from nowhere   General reaction of bewilderment.  Christine looks fearfully about her.  Carlotta hisses at Christine       Again general unease. Carlotta and the Conductor confer and pick up from the opening of the scene  Instead of singing she emits a great croak like a toad. A  stunned silence. The Phantom is laughing - quietly at first, then more and more hysterically  As before. The Phantom's laughter rises. The croaking continues as the chandelier's lights blink on and off. The Phantom's laughter, by this time overpowering, now crescendos into a great cry       The stage is cleared and music  starts again. The Ballet girls enter as a sylvan glade  flies in.   Upstage, behind the drop, a series of threatening  shadows of the Phantom. When this culminates in one gigantic, oppressive, bat-like shadow, the garrotted body of Joseph Buquet falls onto the stage, causing the sylvan glade to fly out. Pandemonium.

Countess  (Carlotta)              Countess and Chorus    Phantom's  voice  Christine  Carlotta  Phantom's  voice  Countess  (Carlotta)              Phantom's voice  Firmin        Andre        Raoul  Christine    Firmin

Serafimo - away with this pretence!  You cannot speak, but kiss me in my  husband's absence!  Poor fool, he makes me laugh!  Haha,  Haha! etc.  Time I tried to get a better better half !  Poor fool, he doesn't know!  Hoho,  Hoho! etc.  If he knew the truth, he'd never, ever go!  Did I not instruct that Box Five was to be kept empty?    It's him . . . I know it . . . it's him . . .  Your part is silent, little toad!  A toad, madame? Perhaps it is you  who are the toad . . .  Serafimo, away with this pretence!  You cannot speak, but kiss me in my   croak!    Poor fool, he makes me laugh -  Hahahahaha!  Croak, croak, croak,  croak, croak, croak, etc.  Behold! She is singing to bring down the chandelier.    Ladies and gentlemen, the performance will  continue in ten minutes' time . . .  . . . when the role of the Countess will be sung by Miss  Christine Daae  In the meantime, ladies and gentlemen, we shall be  giving you the ballet from Act Three of tonight's opera.  Maestro - the ballet - now!    Christine, come with me . . .  No. . . to the roof. We'll be safe there.    Ladies and gentlemen, please remain in your seats. Do  not panic. It was an accident . . . simply an accident . . .

 

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