Charles Hart - Masquerade/Why So Silent? lyrics

[The gauze lifts fully to reveal the staircase of the opera house. The opera ball begins. Among the GUESTS are four carrying strange percussion instruments: a monkey with cymbals, a toy soldier with a drum, a triangle, bells. Together they play weirdly throughout.] [ENSEMBLE] 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 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? [ENSEMBLE] 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 ANDRÉ, FIRMIN, MEG, GIRY, PIANGI and CARLOTTA come to the fore, gla**es in hand] [GIRY] What a night [MEG] What a crowd [ANDRÉ] Makes you glad [FIRMIN] Makes you proud All the crême de la crême [CARLOTTA] Watching us And watching them! [MEG/GIRY] And all our fears are in the past! [ANDRÉ] Six months [PIANGI] Of relief [CARLOTTA] Of delight [ANDRÉ/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 [ANDRÉ] Here's a toast To a prosperous year [FIRMIN] To the new chandelier [PIANGI/CARLOTTA] And may our ​splendour ​never fade! [FIRMIN] Six months! [GIRY] What a joy! [MEG] What a change [FIRMIN/ANDRÉ] What a blessed release [ANDRÉ] And what a masquerade! [They clink gla**es and move off. RAOUL and CHRISTINE emerge. She is admiring a new acquisition: an engagement ring from RAOUL, which she has attached to a gold chain around her neck] [CHRISTINE] Think of it, a secret engagement Look—your future bride Just think of it [RAOUL] But why is secret? What have we to hide? [CHRISTINE] Please let's not fight Wait till the time is right Let's not argue Please pretend You will understand in time [RAOUL] Christine, you're free When will that be? It is a engagement, not a crime Christine, what are you afraid of? Let's not argue I can only hope I'll understand in time [Instrumental interlude] [ENSEMBLE] 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 [At the height of the activity a grotesque figure suddenly appears at the top of the staircase. Dressed all in crimson, with a d**h's head visible inside the hood of his robe, the PHANTOM has come to the party. With dreadful wooden steps he descends the stairs and takes the centre of the stage] [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 [He takes from under his robe an enormous bound man*script] Here I bring the finished score *Don Juan, Triumphant*! I advise you to comply My instructions should be clear Remember there are worse things than a shattered chandelier [To CHRISTINE] Your chains are still mine You will sing for me!