Masquerade

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!

CHRISTINE
Think of it
(Spoken)
A secret engagement.
Look, your future bride.
Just think of it.

RAOUL (Spoken)
But, why a secret?
What have we to hide?

CHRISTINE (Spoken)
No, Raoul, please don't let them see

RAOUL (Spoken)
Well let them see.
It's an engagement, not a crime.
(Sung)
Christine, what are you afraid of?

CHRISTINE/RAOUL
Let's not argue
(Let's not argue)
Please pretend
(I can only hope)
You will understand in time
(I'll understand in time)

ALL
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!

Masquerade!
Burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
at the sea of smiles
around you!

Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
Spinning reds
Masquerade!
Take your fill,
let the spectacle
astound you!

(Voices fade and turn to gasps as the lights dim and the Phantom appears at the top of the stairways )

PHANTOM
Why so silent, good Messieurs?
Did you think that I had left you for good?
Have you missed me, good Messieurs?
I have written you an opera.
Here, I bring the finished score.
Don Juan Triumphant!

Fondest greetings to you all
A few instructions just before rehearsal starts
Carlotta must be taught to act
Not her normal trick of strutting round the stage
Our Don Juan must lose some weight
It's not healthy in a man of Piangi's age
And my managers must learn that their place is in an office
Not the arts
As for our star, Miss Christine Daae...

No doubt she'll do her best
It's true, her voice is good
She knows, though
Should she wish to excell
She has much still to learn
If pride will let her return to me, her teacher
Her teacher...

PHANTOM
Your chains are still mine,
(spoken)
You belong to me!
(The Phantom runs to the middle of the stairway and disappears into the floor hidden by fire. Raoul jumps into the hole in the floor with sword in hand and the floor closes again)