DON NERO - A PERFORMANCE
Июль 1985 | Автор Ричард Стилго.


CARLOTTA:
(as COUNTESS - sung) Serafino, your disguise is perfect.

(Three knocks are heard)

COUNTESS:
Why, who can that be?

DON NERO:
Gentle wife, it is your loving husband.

(he enters the room)

My love, I am sent to England on affairs of state,
And must leave you with your new maid...
Though I'd happier take the maid with me!

COUNTESS:
(spoken aside) The old fool’s leaving.

DON NERO:
I suspect my young bride is untrue to me.
I shall not leave...
But shall hide behind the screen to observe her.

BOTH:
Arrivederci!

(Don Nero leaves to hide behind the screen)

COUNTESS:
Serafino, away with this pretense!
No, do not speak,
But kiss me in my husband’s absence!

(they kiss)

COUNTESS:
Poor fool he makes me laugh.
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha,
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Time I try to get a better, better half!
Time I try to get a better, better half!
Younger men as he are the stuff for me!

(The Phantom's theme underlays - Raoul is in danger)

KRISTIN:
(spoken with alarm) Raoul! Raoul - look out!

CARLOTTA:
(spoken angrily) How dare you! Be silent! Be silent!
Maestro! (order restores itself) There, thank you!
(she begins again) Serafino, away with this pretense!
No, do not speak, but kiss me in my husband’s absence!

(she croaks)

Poor fool he makes me laugh!
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Ha – (she croaks three times)
Ha – (she croaks three times again)

(Croaking continues under)

M. ANDRE:
(spoken in earnest) What is wrong? Carlotta what is wrong?

M. FIRMIN:
(exclaimed) She’s singing to bring down the chandelier!

(the chandelier tinkles)

M. ANDRE:
(spoken) Stop stop stop!
Ladies and gentlemen – I apologise.
The performance will continue in 10 minutes time,
When the part of the Countess will be sung by Kristin Daae!

M. FIRMIN:
(spoken) Er – Maestro bring the ballet forward.

MAESTRO:
(spoken) What?

M. FIRMIN:
(spoken) The ballet – now!

(The ballet begins with Meg Giry dancing. The music becomes faster and faster and faster – till it climaxes with the fall of the dead Joseph Buquet with a clash of The Phantom's theme. There are screams)

KRISTIN:
(spoken) Raoul! Raoul!

(she runs to him)

RAOUL:
(spoken) Come on! This way!

(he begins to lead her off-stage)

KRISTIN:
(spoken) No!

RAOUL:
(spoken) What?

KRISTIN:
(spoken) We'll never get through there. Hurry! To the roof!

(The scene changes to the roof)