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charleygirlTitle: Beyond the Green Baize Door 26/?
Author: charleygirl
Word Count: 1665
Rating: G
Genre: General, Drama
Characters Involved: Monsieur Andre, Monsieur Firmin, Monsieur Reyer, Raoul de Chagny, Carlotta, Piangi
Disclaimer: The Phantom of the Opera is the creation of Gaston Leroux but probably these days copyright to Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Summary: A management meeting.
MUSIC APPRECIATION
Andre buried his head in his hands.
“How can we seriously perform this? We’ll be laughed out of Paris! This is the final nail in the coffin, Richard – maybe Lefevre had the right idea.”
“Don’t make excuses for him. He landed us in this mess in the first place.” Firmin frowned. “He knew all about this cursed ‘Phantom’ when he sold us the theatre.”
“It will be the end of our careers; who will take the Opera Populaire seriously after this?” Andre jabbed an accusatory finger into the leather folder lying on the desk which still held the original score of Don Juan Triumphant. “Good Heavens, it doesn’t have one memorable tune! What will the audience be humming when they leave the theatre? Nothing! They will be staring at us horror and demanding their money back!”
“And stuffing their ears with Camembert,” muttered Firmin, sinking into a leather armchair which creaked beneath his weight.
“The scholars and connessieurs among them will recognise genius when they hear it,” Monsieur Reyer answered, making both the managers jump. The musical director had been so quiet, apparently engrossed in the farrago of an opera with which they had been presented, that they had completely forgotten his presence. “It is brilliant, monsieur, quite brilliant. The pitch, the tone, the scales involved... it is experimental, yes, and incredibly brave, but it is a masterpiece, no doubt about it.”
Now it was Andre’s turn to frown. “Monsieur, are you quite certain that we are discussing the same opera?”
“It will take a great deal of work, but I believe we will ultimately be applauded for presenting such a piece,” Reyer insisted. “Reject it, and your professional reputation will be sealed as that of men who are afraid to take risks.”
“I find it hard to believe that the same audience who cheered HannibalIl Muto, we have no choice but to keep him happy. For now, that is,” he added, glancing at the vicomte, who nodded in agreement.
“Molto bene.” Carlotta folded her arms across her ample chest and said, quite calmly, “Then-a it will-a cost you more money.”
The managers were aghast at her pronouncement.
“What?” Andre exclaimed.
“How do you come to that conclusion, Signora?” Firmin asked.
She shrugged. “My contract states that I am-a the Prima Donna, and I-a take the lead. Any... shall-a we say deviation from that-a contract requires compensazione finanziaria - financial compensation - for-a my reduction in-a status. Ubaldo?” She glanced at Piangi, and he nodded emphatically.
Firmin withdrew a big spotted handkerchief from his pocket and mopped his brow. “This situation is a little... irregular, Signora, you must see that.”
“And the Opera has lost so much money of late, thanks to the Phantom, that I am afraid we just cannot consider such a payment,” Andre added, trying to hide his horror at the thought of having to enter yet another negative figure in the accounts.
“We have the vacancy in the Aminta role,” said Reyer. “That should satisfy Signora Guidicelli, surely?”
Andre shot him a look that made it quite clear he would like to see the musical director disappear in a puff of smoke. Carlotta preened at the suggestion she should play an innocent young waif, and Raoul rolled his eyes.
“I hardly think that will attract the Phantom, and his attendance is, after all, what we are attempting to ensure,” he said, and the diva’s face fell. “Our intention is not to perform an opera, per se, but to catch a criminal. Do not forget that.”
“We have not forgotten, Monsieur le Vicomte,” Firmin replied, “But in Mademoiselle Daae’s absence, what else are we to do? There is no one else who can sing that part; are you sure she will not reconsider?”
“And how am I to achieve that?” asked Raoul, visibly annoyed now. “I cannot not force her; that would make me no better than him, and I will not do that to her. Perhaps Madame Giry - ”
Firmin shook his head dismissively. “No, no, she is in the Phantom’s pocket.”
“Still, she does have some influence with the girl,” Andre mused. “Maybe if we - ”
He was interrupted by a light tap on the door. When no one moved, Reyer crossed the room and opened it; to the surprise of everyone in the room, Christine Daae stood there, a bulky musical score under her arm and one hand raised to knock again.
“I’m sorry,” she said, shrinking back slightly at the six pairs of eyes that were staring at her, “but I’ve been in the rehearsal room and I was wondering where everyone had got to. I’ve been waiting for half an hour.”
Author: charleygirl
Word Count: 1665
Rating: G
Genre: General, Drama
Characters Involved: Monsieur Andre, Monsieur Firmin, Monsieur Reyer, Raoul de Chagny, Carlotta, Piangi
Disclaimer: The Phantom of the Opera is the creation of Gaston Leroux but probably these days copyright to Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Summary: A management meeting.
MUSIC APPRECIATION
Andre buried his head in his hands.
“How can we seriously perform this? We’ll be laughed out of Paris! This is the final nail in the coffin, Richard – maybe Lefevre had the right idea.”
“Don’t make excuses for him. He landed us in this mess in the first place.” Firmin frowned. “He knew all about this cursed ‘Phantom’ when he sold us the theatre.”
“It will be the end of our careers; who will take the Opera Populaire seriously after this?” Andre jabbed an accusatory finger into the leather folder lying on the desk which still held the original score of Don Juan Triumphant. “Good Heavens, it doesn’t have one memorable tune! What will the audience be humming when they leave the theatre? Nothing! They will be staring at us horror and demanding their money back!”
“And stuffing their ears with Camembert,” muttered Firmin, sinking into a leather armchair which creaked beneath his weight.
“The scholars and connessieurs among them will recognise genius when they hear it,” Monsieur Reyer answered, making both the managers jump. The musical director had been so quiet, apparently engrossed in the farrago of an opera with which they had been presented, that they had completely forgotten his presence. “It is brilliant, monsieur, quite brilliant. The pitch, the tone, the scales involved... it is experimental, yes, and incredibly brave, but it is a masterpiece, no doubt about it.”
Now it was Andre’s turn to frown. “Monsieur, are you quite certain that we are discussing the same opera?”
“It will take a great deal of work, but I believe we will ultimately be applauded for presenting such a piece,” Reyer insisted. “Reject it, and your professional reputation will be sealed as that of men who are afraid to take risks.”
“I find it hard to believe that the same audience who cheered HannibalIl Muto, we have no choice but to keep him happy. For now, that is,” he added, glancing at the vicomte, who nodded in agreement.
“Molto bene.” Carlotta folded her arms across her ample chest and said, quite calmly, “Then-a it will-a cost you more money.”
The managers were aghast at her pronouncement.
“What?” Andre exclaimed.
“How do you come to that conclusion, Signora?” Firmin asked.
She shrugged. “My contract states that I am-a the Prima Donna, and I-a take the lead. Any... shall-a we say deviation from that-a contract requires compensazione finanziaria - financial compensation - for-a my reduction in-a status. Ubaldo?” She glanced at Piangi, and he nodded emphatically.
Firmin withdrew a big spotted handkerchief from his pocket and mopped his brow. “This situation is a little... irregular, Signora, you must see that.”
“And the Opera has lost so much money of late, thanks to the Phantom, that I am afraid we just cannot consider such a payment,” Andre added, trying to hide his horror at the thought of having to enter yet another negative figure in the accounts.
“We have the vacancy in the Aminta role,” said Reyer. “That should satisfy Signora Guidicelli, surely?”
Andre shot him a look that made it quite clear he would like to see the musical director disappear in a puff of smoke. Carlotta preened at the suggestion she should play an innocent young waif, and Raoul rolled his eyes.
“I hardly think that will attract the Phantom, and his attendance is, after all, what we are attempting to ensure,” he said, and the diva’s face fell. “Our intention is not to perform an opera, per se, but to catch a criminal. Do not forget that.”
“We have not forgotten, Monsieur le Vicomte,” Firmin replied, “But in Mademoiselle Daae’s absence, what else are we to do? There is no one else who can sing that part; are you sure she will not reconsider?”
“And how am I to achieve that?” asked Raoul, visibly annoyed now. “I cannot not force her; that would make me no better than him, and I will not do that to her. Perhaps Madame Giry - ”
Firmin shook his head dismissively. “No, no, she is in the Phantom’s pocket.”
“Still, she does have some influence with the girl,” Andre mused. “Maybe if we - ”
He was interrupted by a light tap on the door. When no one moved, Reyer crossed the room and opened it; to the surprise of everyone in the room, Christine Daae stood there, a bulky musical score under her arm and one hand raised to knock again.
“I’m sorry,” she said, shrinking back slightly at the six pairs of eyes that were staring at her, “but I’ve been in the rehearsal room and I was wondering where everyone had got to. I’ve been waiting for half an hour.”
