I got in the mood for a phantom of the opera story so here it is! Sorry if the character is Mary Sue. Her voice sounds like Hayley Westenra and Aurora in Disney's sleeping beauty. Pics are on my profile!
Disclaimer: I only own Adelina "Lina" Mira Clemington and Joshua De Chagny
We were all rushing around and getting into our slave costumes. Meg, Christine, and I giggled at a girl who stumbled while we came down the stairs.
We put powder on the tips of our shoes before stretching as Meg's mother went through the overcrowded backstage area making sure we weren't slacking off.
Then we went to the tip of the stage ready to start rehearsal. I clenched my eyes shut for a moment when Carlotta began to sing. She sounded absolutely horrible. After she screamed the word Rome the male chorus line started up. Then the rest of the chorus sang.
"You make my dress train too long!" Carlotta complained.
As Piangi was in the middle of his singing we were interrupted by the opera house's owner, Lefevre with two men following behind him. Reyer tried to stop them form interrupting but failed.
"This way, As you can see rehearsals are underway for a new production of Chalumeau's Hannibal." he explained to the two gentlemen behind him.
"M. Lefevre, I am rehearsing." M. Reyer scolded him. Lefevre settled them down.
"M. Reyer, Mme. Giry, ladies and gentlemen, please, if I can have your attention, thank you." he said as Madame Giry looked at him from stretching and all the performers gathered around. "As you know, for some weeks there have been rumors of my imminent retirement." he said looking around at everyone.
"I can now tell you that these were all true, and it is my pleasure to introduce to you the two gentlemen who now own the Opera Populaire, M. Richard Firmin and M. Gilles Andre." He finished. The Firmin nodded his head at his name and Andre smiled and waved happily at his. Carlotta stopped fanning herself and made an 'I told you so' noise at everyone.
"I'm sure you've read their recent fortune in the junk business." Lefevre said and Andre interrupted him.
"Scrap metal, actually." he corrected.
"They must be rich." I heard one of the girls whisper excitedly.
"And we are deeply honored to introduce our new patrons..." Andre said turning to two more men behind him.
"Vicomte de Chagney and his younger brother David de Chagney. " Firmin finished turning as well. We looked to see the two young men approach.
"It's Raoul. Before my father died, at the house by the sea, I guess you could say we were childhood sweethearts. He called me Little Lotte." Christine said about Raoul.
"David and I played with Christine and Raoul before my house burned down. Taking my family with it." I said looking down sadly. Christine put a hand on my shoulder looking at me with understanding.
"Their so handsome." Med commented. We giggled a bit before paying attention.
"My parents and I are honored to support all the arts especially the world renowned Opera Populaire." Raoul said. People clapped. Carlotta went towards them with her hand outstretched.
"Gentlemen, Signora Carlotta Giudicelli, our leading soprano for five seasons." Lefevre introduced her while Raoul and David kissed her hand and her maids clapped with support.
"Squawker." I coughed out. Carlotta glared at me while the chorus girls giggled. That was my nickname for her. Carlotta the Squawker. David and Raoul chuckled. The rest ignored me because they were used to it. Piangi coughed, "ehem."
"and Signor Ubaldo Piangi." Lefevre said. Raoul and David chuckled at his current state of dress, his half finished costume.
"An honor signor. I believe I'm keeping you from your rehearsal. I will be here this evening to share your great triumph. My apologies monsieur." said then began to leave. Carlotta saying her goodbyes.
"Thank you, monsieur. Once more if you please signor." Reyer encouraged us to start again.
"He love me, He love me." Carlotta was boasting to her maids as Raoul and David passed by. David winked at us. Meg giggle while I smirked and looked to the stage. Not interested.
"He wouldn't recognize me." Christine said sadly.
"He didn't see you." I reassured her. Our music began and we danced out onto the stage beginning our ballet part. As we danced Madame Giry spoke with the new owners. I only caught bits and pieces. We continued dancing as they rolled the elephant in. Piangi accidently stepped on Carlotta's dress making her protest a bit but luckily she didn't make a scene.
We were nearing the end of the scene when Carlotta was getting angry that the managers were watching the dancers and not her singing. Then we did our final twirls before kneeling to the floor and smiling at the 'audience' as the music ended.
"All day! All they want is the dancing!" Carlotta protested. I rolled my eyes.
"Here we go." I mumbled to myself.
"Well, the Vicomte de Chagney is very excited about tonight's gala." Lefevre said trying to calm her.
"Ah, ah-ha-ha. Allora Allora Allora" she pretended to laugh. "I hope, he is as excited by dancing girls as you new managers! Because I will not be singing!" she yelled then began to storm off...for the third time this week. "Get my doggy, bring my doggy, bye bye." she shouted.
"What do we do?" Andre asked.
"Grovel...Grovel, Grovel." he replied ushering the men to do so.
"Right." Andre replied then rushed over with firmin to Carlotta to begin 'Groveling'.
"This should be good." I whispered to Meg and Christine causing them to giggle. I rolled my eyes and leaned against a post watching the scene before me unfold.
"World renowned artist and great beauty." Firmin tried.
"Principessa, Bella Diva." Andre said. Carlotta then turned to them.
"Si. Si, Si." she replied.
"Goddess of song! Monsieur Reyer, isn't there a rather marvelous aria for Elissa in act 3 of Hannibal? Perhaps if Signora." Firmin suggested.
"Yes, Yes! Ma, No! Because I have not my costume for act 3 because somebody not finish it! And I hate my hat!" she yelled at them. I laughed in my hand because it sounded like she said she ate her hat.
"But I wonder Signora, as a personal favor, would you oblige us with a private rendition? Unless of course Monsieur Reyer objects." Firmin said as Carlotta pretended to cry.. Reyer shook his head as a reply.
"If my managers command, Monsieur Reyer." she said smiling.
"If my diva commands." he replied.
"Yes I do! Everybody very quiet!" she shouted going to the center of the stage.
"Oh god." I groaned rolling my eyes.
"You as well!" Carlotta shouted at me. I stuck my tongue out at her as she sprayed her throat with whatever that stuff is that she thinks helps.
"Signora." Reyer said making sure she was ready. I giggled at her maids putting cotton in their ears to block the sound.
Then she stood straight, "Maestro.
Think of me, Think of me fondly
When we've said goodbye
Remember me, once in awhile
Please promise me you'll try
When you find, that once again
You long to take your hear back and be free" She was cut off my Meg's scream and a back scene falling on her.
"Signora!" Reyer shouted getting back on the stage from the bane pit.
"I hate you! Lift it up!" Carlotta shouted. Almost everyone rushed to help her not wanted to anger her further.
"He is here. The phantom of the opera." meg exclaimed grasping my arm. Christine hid behind me.
"Signora, are you all right? Buquet! For God's sake what's going on up there?" Firmin shouted up at the stagehand Joseph as he tried to help Carlotta up.
"Please Monsieur, Don't look at me. As Gods my judge I wasn't at my post. Please Monsieur, there's no one there, or if there is well, then, it must be a ghost." Joseph replied cackling and rolling up the backdrop. I rolled my eyes as everyone gasped.
"Signora, these things do happen." Andre said trying to pass it off as nothing.
"For the past three years these things do happen, and did you do stop them from happening? No!" She exclaimed then turned to the new managers. "And you two, you are just as bad as him. "These things do happen.", she mocked then clenched her fists trying to contain her anger.
"Until you stop these things from happening, this thing does not happen! Bring my doggy and my boxy!" She shouted storming off.
"Hmf...Amateurs" Piangi said before following her out.
"Now you see, bye bye, I am really leaving!" Carlotta exclaimed from the exit of the stage room.
"Good riddance." I whispered to meg and Christine. We giggled.
"Gentlemen, good luck, If you happen to need me, I shall be in Australia." Lefevre told the managers before walking away leaving them in despair. Reyer looked as if he was going to faint.
"Signora Giudicelli!" Andre called.
"She will be coming back won't she?" Andre asked panicked looking to Reyer who shrugged in reply before walking off.
"You think so monsieur? I have a message from the Opera Ghost." Madame Giry said causing the managers to turn to her and holding up a letter with a red seal on it. The girls and I looked at each other then took a couple steps foward from the sides to hear better.
"Oh God in Heaven, your all obsessed!" Firmin said rolling his eyes and putting his hands on his hips.
"He welcome you to his Opera House..." M. Giry read.
"His opera house?" Firmin exclaimed.
"And commands that you continue to leave box 5 empty," She continued pointing her cane to box 5. "for his use and reminds you that his salary is due." She finished handing the letter to Firmin
"His salary?" Andre asked with wide eyes.
"Well, Monsieur Lefevre used to give him 20,000 francs a month." M. Giry said as if she were telling them the sky is blue.
"20,000 francs?" Firmin asked surprised.
"Perhaps you can afford more. With the Vicomte as your patron?" M. Giry shrugged backing away slightly towards us. We pretended to talk to each other but still listened to the loud conversation.
"Madame, I had hoped to make that announcement public tonight. When the Vicomte was to join us for the Gala, but, obviously we shall have to cancel as it appear we have lost our star!" Firmin exclaimed ripping up the letter.
We all looked at each other disappointed and mad that after all our work the show is cancelled.
"But surely there must be an understudy?" Andre asked Reyer.
"There is no understudy for La Carlotta!" Reyer replied.
"A full house Andre, we shall have to refund a full house!" Firmin panicked.
"Adelina Clemington could sing it sir." M. Giry cut in. I looked over at the sound of my name. They looked at me.
"But a chorus girl? Don't be silly." Andre said rolling his eyes. I glared at him for underestimating me.
"She's been taking lessons from a great teacher." M. Giry coaxed.
"Who?" Firmin asked me.
"I don't know his name sir." I replied shrugging.
"Let her sing for you Monsieur, she has been well taught." M. Giry convinced them while putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. Andre sighed.
"All right, come on, don't be shy. Come on, come along, just" Andre said ushering me to sing. I hesitatingly walked up to where they were standing in the front area of the stage.
"From the beginning of the aria then please mademoiselle." Reyer sighed out. I nodded in reply while preparing my diaphragm and taking a breath in so I sound good.
"Andre, this is doing nothing for my nerves." I heard Firmin whisper.
"Well she quite beautiful." Andre replied. Then I began to sing.
"Think of me, think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me, once in a while -
please promise me you'll try.
I looked to M. Giry who nodded at me to continue. The managers had awed looks.
When you find that, once again, you long
to take your heart back and be free -
if you ever find a moment,
spare a thought for me.
I looked to the managers for their approval. They smiled and clapped. I smiled as everyone else joined in. Madame giry pulled me over to the costume area where I was fitted for the lead costume. I was a tad bit smaller than Carlotta though my chest helped hold the dress up as the women adjusted it.
I was then brought to the prima dona's room which was now mine. I was then left to rest since rehearsal's were over and it was almost night. I collapsed on the bed and sighed with a smile on my face.
" I take it to like your room?" I heard my angel's voice ask.
"Yes very much!" I exclaimed giggling. He chuckled with me. "Thank you!" I said smiling sitting up.
"For what?" He asked.
"Everything! The lessons, looking after me, giving me courage, everything." I replied. "How am I ever going to repay you?" I asked.
"Just sing for me. For now get some rest. You'll need it for tomorrow night." he told me. I smiled then went behind the dressing screen with a night gown. I got change then went under the covers in bed. I blew the candle out on the bed table and fell asleep with my angel singing a lullaby.
R&R loves! I hope you like it.