Masquerade / Why So Silent

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 all our friends who are here!



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's it secret?

What have we to hide

You promised me



CHRISTINE (SPOKEN)

No Raoul, please don't

They'll see



RAOUL (SPOKEN

Well then let them see

It's an engagement, not a crime



RAOUL(SUNG)

Christine what are you afraid of...



CHRISTINE

Let's not argue

Please pretend

You will understand in time



RAOUL

Let's not argue

I can only hope I'll understand in time



PHANTOM

Why so silent good mouisseres?

Did you think that I had left you for good?

Have you missed me good mouisseres?

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 put 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 house.



As for our star

Miss Christine Daai

No doubt she'll do her best

It's true

Her voice is good, she knows though

Should she wish to excel

She has much still to learn

If pride will let her return to me

Her teacher...

Her teacher...



Her chain says a lie!

You belong to me!