Richard Stilgoe - Notes.../Prima Donna lyrics
[FIRMIN is scornfully eyeing a newspaper article] [FIRMIN] "Mystery after gala night," It says, "Mystery of sopranos flight!" "Mystified," baffled Sûreté say "We are mystified. We suspect foul play!" Bad news on soprano scene First Carlotta, now Christine Still at least the seats get sold Gossip's worth its weight in gold What a way to run a business Spare me these unending trials Half your cast disappears But the crowd still cheers Opera! To hell with Gluck and Handel It's a scandal that'll pack 'em in the aisles! [ANDRE] Damnable! Will they all walk out? This is damnable! [FIRMIN] André, please don't shout It's publicity, and the take is vast Free publicity [ANDRE] But we have no cast! [FIRMIN] But André, have you seen the queue? [He has been sorting mail on his desk. Finding the two letters from the PHANTOM:] Oh, it seems you've got one, too [He hands the letter to ANDRE, who opens it and reads:] [ANDRE] "Dear André, what a charming gala! Christine enjoyed a great success We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left Otherwise, the chorus was entrancing But the dancing was a lamentable mess" [FIRMIN (reading his)] "Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder My salary has not been paid Send it care of the Ghost by return of post P.T.O. No one likes a debtor So it's better if my orders are obeyed!" [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Who would have the gall to send this? Someone with a puerile brain [FIRMIN (examining both letters)] These are both signed "O.G." [ANDRE] Who the hell is he? [ANDRE & FIRMIN (immediately realizing)] Opera Ghost! [ANDRE] It's really not amusing [FIRMIN] He's abusing our position [ANDRE] In addition, he wants money [FIRMIN] He's a funny sort of spectre [ANDRE & FIRMIN] To expect a large retainer Nothing plainer He is clearly quite insane [ANDRE] You mean Carlotta? [FIRMIN] Well, how should we know? [RAOUL (brandishing another of the PHANTOM'S notes)] Where is she? I mean Miss Daaé Where is she? I want an answer [RAOUL] I take it that you sent me this note She's not with you then? Monsieur don't argue Isn't this the letter you wrote? [FIRMIN] What's all this nonsense? Don't look at us Of course not! [ANDRE] Of course not! We're in the dark [FIRMIN] And what is is that we're meant to have wrote? ...Written [RAOUL hands the note to ANDRE, who reads it] [ANDRE] "Do not fear for Miss Daaé The Angel of Music has her under his wing Make no attempt to see her again." [The MANAGERS look mystified] [RAOUL] If you didn't write it, who did? [CARLOTTA bursts in. She too has a letter.] [CARLOTTA] Where is he? Your precious patron Where is he? (to Raoul) I have your letter A letter which I rather resent [ANDRE] Ah, welcome back! [RAOUL] What is it now? [FIRMIN (to Raoul)] And did you send it? [RAOUL] Of course not! [ANDRE] As if he would [CARLOTTA] You didn't send it? [RAOUL] Of course not! [FIRMIN] What going on? [CARLOTTA] You dare to tell me That this is not the letter you sent? [RAOUL] And what is it that I'm meant to have sent? [RAOUL takes the letter and reads it] "Your days at the Opéra Populaire are numbered Christine Daaé will be singing on your behalf tonight Be prepared for a great misfortune Should you attempt to take her place." [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Far too many notes for my taste And most of them about Christine All we've heard since we came Is Miss Daaé's name [MME GIRY suddenly appears, accompanied by MEG] [GIRY] Miss Daaé has returned [ANDRE (drily)] I trust her midnight oil Is well and truly burned? [FIRMIN] Where precisely is she now? [GIRY] I thought it best that she went home [MEG] She needed rest [RAOUL] May I see her? [MME GIRY] No Monsieur, she will see no one [CARLOTTA] Will she sing? Will she sing? [MME GIRY] Here, I have a note [ALL (except Mme Giry and Meg)] Let me see it [FIRMIN, spoken (snatching it)] Please! "Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theater is to be run. You have not followed my instructions..." [PHANTOM'S VOICE, spoken] "...I shall give you one last chance (sung) Christine Daaé has returned to you And I am anxious her career should progress In the new production of Il Muto You will therefore cast Carlotta as the pageboy And put Miss Daaé in the role of Countess The role which Miss Daaé plays Calls for charm and appeal The role of the pageboy is silent which makes My casting, in a word, ideal (spoken) I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in box 5, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur [FIRMIN, spoken] "...I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant O.G." (sung) [CARLOTTA] Christine! It's all a ploy to help Christine I know who sent this The Vicomte—her lover! [FIRMIN] Whatever next? This is insane [RAOUL (ironical)] Indeed? (to the OTHERS) Can you believe this? [ANDRE (to CARLOTTA, in protest)] Signora! This changes nothing You are our star! Signora We don't take orders [FIRMIN] This is a joke Signora! And always will be! The man is mad [CARLOTTA] O traditori! O mentitori! [FIRMIN] Miss Daaé will be playing the pageboy—the silent role [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Carlotta will be playing the lead [CARLOTTA] It's useless trying to appease me! You're only saying this to please me Signor, è vero? Non, non, non voglio udire! Lasciatemi morire! O padre mio! Dio! [MME GIRY] Who scorn his word beware to those The angel sees, the angel knows [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Signora, pardon us Please Signora, we beseech you [CARLOTTA (to MANAGERS)] You have reviled me! You have rebuked me! You have replaced me! [RAOUL] Why did Christine fly from my arms? [MME GIRY] This hour shall see your darkest fears The angel knows the angel hears [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Signora, sing for us Don't be a martyr Our star! [CARLOTTA] Abbandonata! Deseredata! O, sventurata! Abbandonata! Disgraziata! Ah! [RAOUL/MEG?] I must see her [RAOUL] Where did she go? [RAOUL/MEG] What new surprises Lie in store? [ANDRE] Your public needs you [FIRMIN] We need you, too [CARLOTTA] Wouldn't you rather have your precious little ingénue? [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Signora, no! The world wants you Prima Donna, first lady of the stage Your devotees are on their knees to implore you [ANDRE] Can you bow out when they're shouting your name? [FIRMIN] Think of how they all adore you [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Prima donna, enchant us once again [ANDRE] Think of your muse [FIRMIN] And of your queues 'round the theatre! [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Can you deny us the triumph in store? [ANDRE, FIRMIN] Sing Prima Donna once more Think of your public Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel [ANDRE] We get our Opera [FIRMIN] She gets her limelight [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Leading ladies are a trial Tears... Oaths... Lunatic demands are regular occurrences Surely there'll be further scenes— Worse than this! [CARLOTTA] Prima Donna Your song shall live again You took a snub But there's a public who needs you Think of their cry of undying support Follow where the limelight Leads you Prima Donna Your song shall never die You'll sing again And to unending ovation Think how you'll shine in that final encore Sing Prima Donna once more [RAOUL] Christine spoke of an angel Is this her angel of music...? Angel or madman? Orders, warnings Lunatic demands! Surely, for her sake... I must see these demands are rejected! [GIRY] She has heard the voice of the Angel of Music [GIRY] Heaven help you those who doubt This miscasting Will invite damnation [GIRY] Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings! Think, before these demands are rejected! [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Who'd believe a diva Happy to relieve a Chorus girl whose gone And slept with the patron? Raoul and the soubrette Entwined in love's duet! Although he may demur He must have been with her! You'd never get away With all this in a play But if it's loudly sung And in a foreign tongue It's just the sort of story Audiences adore In fact a perfect opera! [CARLOTTA] O! Fortunata! Non ancor, ab- bandonata [RAOUL] (?) [MEG/RAOUL] Christine must be protected! [GIRY] This is a game you cannot hope to win! But if his curse is on this opera... [ANDRE/ FIRMIN] Prima donna, the world is at your feet! A nation waits And how it hates to be cheated! [CARLOTTA] The stress that falls upon a famous prima donna! Terrible diseases, coughs and colds and sneezes! Still, the dryest throat will reach the highest note In search of perfect opera! [GIRY] Then I fear the outcome Should you dare to [RAOUL] Christine plays the Pageboy, Carlotta plays the Countess [ALL] Light up the stage with that age-old rapport! Sing prima donna, once more! [PHANTOM'S VOICE] So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur! [ALL] Once more! [During the Il Muto overture, RAOUL, ANDRE and FIRMIN take their respective seats] [RAOUL] Gentlemen, if you would care to take your seats? I shall be sitting in Box Five [ANDRE] Do you really think that's wise, monsieur? [RAOUL] My dear André, there would appear to be no seats available, other than Box Five... [CARLOTTA as COUNTESS] Serafimo—away with this pretence! [She rips off Serafimo's skirt to reveal his manly breeches] You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence!