 THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Book by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Richard Stilgoe: Music by Andrew Lloyd
Webber: Lyrics by Charles Hart: Additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe
Her Majesty's Theatre, London - October 9, 1988
Majestic Theatre, Broadway - January 1, 1988
Synopsis
0n the stage of the Opera de Paris, 1905, old stage
props are being auctioned. The elderly Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny, is the
major buyer and he seems emotionally affected by his purchases. A broken
chandelier is produced. The auctioneer recalls its connection with the
mysterious tale of the Phantom of the Opera nearly 50 years earlier. The
music begins as the working portion of the chandelier is lit. Like magic,
the lit portion starts to grow to full size. Finally, it rises to its
former position in the auditorium as the stage of the Opera reverts, in
flashback, to the grandeur of the year 1861. The great soprano Carlotta
Giudicelli is rehearsing the opera Hannibal. As she sings her aria, the backdrop crashes down. The
chorus insist that this is the work of the Phantom and a frightened Carlotta
refuses to perform that evening. Meg, who performs in the Opera's ballet,
suggests that her fellow dancer Christine Daae should take over. As Christine
sings for managers, André and Firmin, the scene changes to that
evening's performance where she enjoys a great success. The Opera's distinguished
patron - Raoul as a young man - recognises Christine as a childhood acquaintance.
In her dressing room afterwards, Christine confides to
Meg that she has a mysterious teacher whom she has never seen. She associates
this disembodied voice with her dying father's promise to send an 'angel
of music' to watch over her. Raoul de Chagny asks Christine to supper.
As he leaves, the Phantom, angry at Raoul's familiarity with his protégée,
commands Christine to look in the mirror. She sees him, then takes his
hand and disappears with him through the mirror.
The creature leads Christine deep into the caverns and
waterways beneath the opera house and across a subterranean lake, lit
by candelabra. When they reach his secret lair, he plays a huge organ
and sings of his shadowy, sensual world of music. The next morning, Christine
wakes to the sound of the Phantom composing at the organ. She snatches
at his mask and reveals his horribly disfigured face. Although he is enraged,
he is reluctant to return her to the theatre and only does so after realising
that her absence will cause a search.
Messages are then delivered from the Phantom. Raoul is
forbidden to see Christine and another decree orders that Christine be
given the leading role in the next opera, Il Muto, while Carlotta
is to take a nonsinging role. Carlotta is furious. To keep her with the
company, André and Firmin flatter her outrageously and privately
assure her that she will, after all, play the star part.
They have reckoned without the Phantom. In the first
performance of Il Muto he ridicules Carlotta by making her croak
like a toad. Then a stagehand is found murdered. Christine takes Raoul
up on to the roof of the theatre where they will be safe from the Phantom.
She tells him everything. He comforts her and confesses his love, which
she returns. The Phantom witnesses their kiss. Christine completes the
opera in Carlotta's place. As she takes her curtain call, the great chandelier
crashes to the stage.
Act Two opens on New Year's Eve. Everyone is
gathered at the Opera for a masked ball. It is now six months since the
chandelier incident and Raoul and Christine have secretly become engaged.
At the height of the festivities, the Phantom appears on the Grand Staircase
dressed in red and wearing a death's-head mask. He presents the score
of a new opera, Don Juan Triumphant, and commands that the Opera
stage it. In the notes to his opera, the Phantom orders that Christine
not only take the primadonna role but that she should return to
him for more tuition.
Confused and afraid, Christine seeks comfort at her father's
grave but even there she is haunted by her angel of music. As he calls
her to him, the figures of her father and the Phantom seem to merge in
her mind. Raoul appears and breaks the mesmeric influence by carrying
Christine to safety.
During the premiere of the opera, the Phantom murders
the leading man and takes his place opposite Christine. He sings passionately
of his love. At the climax of his song, Christine tears at his mask to
expose his hideous deformity to the audience. Screaming, he grabs her
and they disappear, pursued by theatre staff.
Raoul, the first to reach the Phantom's lair, is trapped
and a rope is dropped over his neck. The monster offers Christine a choice:
succumb to him or see her loved one die. Christine, feeling both terror
and pity, approaches the Phantom and kisses him. The kiss has a magical
effect. The creature releases Raoul and urges them both to cross the lake.
As they leave, he whispers, 'Christine, I love you'. The Phantom covers
himself with his cloak as the mob breaks in. The cloak is snatched aside.
Only his mask remains. |
