(The front cloth rises to reveal an 18th Century salon,
a canopied bed centre-stage. The COUNTESS is played
by CARLOTTA. SERAFIMO, the page boy, is disguised as
her maid and is played by CHRISTINE.
At this point they are hidden behind the drapes of the bed,
which are drawn.)



Poor fool, he makes me laugh!
Haha,
Haha! etc.
Time I tried to get a better better half!

COUNTESS AND CHORUS
Poor fool, he doesn't know!
Hoho,
Hoho! etc.
If he knew the truth, he'd never, ever go!
.........................................................................
( Suddenly from nowhere, we hear the voice of the PHANTOM )

PHANTOM'S VOICE
Did I not instruct that Box Five was to be kept empty?

MEG ( terrified )
He's here: the Phantom of the Opera. . .

( General reaction of bewilderment. CHRISTINE looks fearfully about her )

CHRISTINE
It's him. . . I know it. . . it's him. . .

.......................................................
CARLOTTA ( Finding a scapegoat in CHRISTINE, hisses at her )
Your part is silent, little toad!

( But the PHANTOM has heard her )

PHANTOM'S VOICE
A toad, madame? Perhaps it is you who are the toad. . .

( Again unease. CARLOTTA and the CONDUCTOR
confer and pick up from the opening of the scene )

CARLOTTA ( As the COUNTESS )
Serafimo, away with this pretence!
You cannot speak, but kiss me in my croak!

.........................................................................
( Instead of singing she emits a great croak like a toad.
A stunned silence. CARLOTTA is as amazed as anyone but
regains herself and continues. More perturbing, however,
is a new sound: the PHANTOM is laughing - quietly at first,
then more and more hysterically )

CARLOTTA ( as the COUNTESS )
Poor fool, he makes me laugh -
Hahahahaha!
Croak, croak, croak,
croak, croak, croak, etc.

( 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 )

PHANTOM'S VOICE
Behold! She is singing to bring down the chandelier!

( CARLOTTA looks tearfully up at the MANAGERS ' box
and shakes her head )

CARLOTTA
Non posso piu. . .
I cannot. . . I cannot go on. . .

PIANGI ( rushing on )
Cara, cara. . . I'm here. . .
is all right. . . Come. . . I'm here. . .

( ANDRE and FIRMIN hurry out of the box onto the
stage. PIANGI ushers the now sobbing CARLOTTA
offstage, while the MANAGERS tackle the audience )

FIRMIN
Ladies and gentlemen, the performance will
continue in ten minutes' time. . .

( He addresses Box Five, keeping one eye on
the chandelier as it returns to normal )

. . .when the role of the Countess will be sung
by Miss Christine Daae.

ANDRE ( improvising )
In the meantime, ladies and gentlemen, we shall be giving
you the ballet from Act Three of tonight's opera.

( to the CONDUCTOR )

Maestro - the ballet - now!
....................................................
( The MANAGERS leave, the stage is cleared and music starts again.
The BALLET GlRLS enter as a sylvan glade flies in.
They begin the Dance of the Country Nymphs.
Upstage, behind the drop, a series of threatening shadows of the
PHANTOM. MEG is aware of them and dances out of step.
When this culminates in one gigantic, oppressive, bat-like shadow,
the garotted body of JOSEPH BUQUET falls onto the stage,
causing the sylvan glade to fly out. Pandemonium. )
....................................................

Prologue
Overture
Think Of Me
Angel Of Music
The Mirror
The Phantom Of The Opera
Music Of The Night
I Remember / Stranger Than You Dreamt It
Magical Lasso
Notes / Prima Donna
Why Have You Brought Me Here
All I Ask Of You
All I Ask Of You ( Reprise )
Entr'acte
Masquerade
Notes / Twisted Everyway
The Graveyard
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
Wandering Child
Point Of No Return
Down Once More / Track Down
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