Okay, this idea struck me: I love "Danny Phantom," and I love "The Phantom of the Opera," so why not combine them?
If this isn't an original idea, or you have suggestions, feel free to tell me. I won't get too mad. I'm sorry if this has been done before, and if it hasn't been, then I am finally being original!
Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom, The Phantom of the Opera, or Mr. Ellis. He is my school's usual drama teacher, and I couldn't think of a better name, okay? Also, I own none of the other musicals mentioned in this chapter. Also, I do not own the Evanescence song in this particular chapter. Okay, I own nothing, unless you don't recognize it in the slightest way.
And do not get mad about my choosing of his last name. I got it from the book "The Phantom of Manhattan," by Frederick Forsyth. It's like an unofficial sequel to "The Phantom of the Opera."
Okay, read on and tell me what you think! One more thing. This is in Sam's P.O.V., unless I say otherwise.
Danny practically dragged me over to the drama sign-up sheet. He had informed me that his parents are forcing him to join some extracurricular activity, and other than sports and cheerleading, drama was the only one.
"Danny, come on. It's not that bad," I said. He was really upset. He's not the kind of guy to do anything extra for school.
Why was the sheet even up? This was the middle of the year; all the drama students had already been picked. We finally got there, and I read why:
"New Drama Club Members Needed:
Extras Or Lead Parts.
Please Sign Below And Talk To The Drama Teacher
Meeting At 3:00 PM On Tuesday For New Members"
Danny scribbled his name down and pleaded for me to add mine. I didn't mind, really. I had been meaning to join, anyway. It was nearly three o'clock, so we walked down the hall to the drama room.
"Sam, thanks for joining," he said. I smiled. Tucker ran up to us from behind, sounding a bit out of breath. "So... you guys signed up, too?" he asked. We both nodded.
"Tucker, why did you sign up?" Danny asked. Tucker whipped out his P.D.A. and stated happily, "Some of this technology's gotta go somewhere, and I think drama would appreciate it most."
I smirked, but Tucker seemed proud enough of himself. Like he was a super hero.
So Danny, Tucker, and I walked down to the drama room. A light was on, and I could see Mr. Ellis' profile. There was someone else in there, I think. I opened the door to find a lot of somebody's. As in all of the late-starters. Even some people I didn't expect. Can you say Paulina?
Danny and Tucker fell into their usual state of being into the presence of the school "goddess," and meandered away from me.
I got to take a good look around when I saw a guy I didn't recognize. He had slightly curly black hair and was dressed in a dressy black outfit. He seemed to be tall, even though he was sitting on the floor. And handsome, in a sort of subtle way. Not what people'd consider handsome in this whacked-out time period and society.
I was in one of my semi-friendly moods, so I decided to talk to him; make him feel more at home. He didn't seem to be trying to talk to anyone.
"Hi, I'm Sam," I said. Make it short, don't start babbling. "Hello there. My name is Erik." I smiled. He was British. No wonder I had never seen him before! "Are you new here?"
"Yes. It's my first day."
"Oh, wow. And you decided to sign up for drama? Just like that?"
"I think it helps me get my emotions out better. And these people are more interested in the arts, and not some useless hobby," he stated. Wow. That's how I feel!
"So... have you made any friends yet?" I asked. I was just trying to strike up a conversation, but I realized that I might've pushed over "friendly." But he answered straightforward. "Only you," he said, but he really didn't sound too upset about it.
A shadow was cast over us. I looked up into the smirking faces of Dash and Paulina. "Well, well, is Little Sammy making friends with drama geeks now? I thought you liked techno-geeks," she spat. Dash snickered. "Shut up, Paulina," I mumbled.
"Ooh, sorry to take your attention away from your new boyfriend," she sneered. "I met the guy only a minute ago. Just because I talk to him doesn't make him my boyfriend. Besides, if you're in drama, aren't you a drama geek?"
She snickered. "You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? I am in drama to become a star! There's a difference, you know!" She struck a pose. "Well, you got the Prima Donna act down perfectly," I said. She looked confused, but eventually she figured out that is was an insult and stormed off. Erik laughed.
Then Danny and Tucker came up. "Hey, Sam," Danny said. He looked beside me. "Who's your new friend?" he asked. At least he was polite. "Danny, Tucker, this is Erik," I said. "Hey," Tucker and Danny said in unison.
They took a seat near me on the floor when Mr. Ellis began the meeting. "As you all must've read, our drama club was running low on members, and we are going to begin our new play soon. All of our plays have been musicals, so, if anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to shout them out."
"Fiddler on the Roof!"... "Grease!"... "Chicago!"... "Anything Goes!" Wow, a lot of people actually appreciate musicals. That's two or three more than I expected to come from anyone. But Mr. Ellis turned those down.
"Little Shop of Horrors!" ... "The Music Man!" ... "Oklahoma!" ... "The Wizard of Oz!" ... "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!" Again, Mr. Ellis turned these all down. I had been making a mental list of all the musicals I knew, and most of them had been called out. Then Erik raised his hand.
"Yes, Erik?" Mr. Ellis asked. "Well, why not do The Phantom of the Opera?" Erik suggested. I heard a few people snicker. Most likely Paulina and Dash. Mr. Ellis' face lit up. "What a brilliant idea! All for Phantom of the Opera, raise your hand."
Out of about twenty people, fourteen people raised their hand. I was enthralled. I had totally forgotten about that one! But as soon as the vote was cast, all of it's details came flooding back to me.
From the book and the musical. My parents took me to see it once when I was eight, and I loved it. It's out on movie now, isn't it? I'm gonna have to go buy it.
"Now, if you all would be so kind, follow me to the stage and we can begin casting," Mr. Ellis instructed.
"I will be reading and singing for the part of Christine," Paulina said in a dramatic tone. Like everyone was clinging to every word she spoke—which, in some cases, was true.
Paulina and Dash (obviously) occupied the stage. "And... who will you be reading for, Dash?" Mr. Ellis asked. Dash kinda stood there, not really paying attention. "Uh... this Raoul guy," he said dumbly.
Then they launched into overly dramatic dialogue. "Little Lotte let her mind wander. Little Lotte thought 'Am I fonder of dolls or of goblins or shoes?' Mr. Ellis, this line doesn't make any sense! What are they talking about?" Dash whined in his naturally nasally voice.
"Okay, Dash, maybe you should watch the movie once or twice," Mr. Ellis suggested. I smirked. Paulina was left on the stage alone. Erik was seated beside me and I could hear him stifling a laugh. Then a thought struck me. I leaned over to Erik.
"Where did Mr. Ellis get these scripts?" I asked him. He smiled and said "I wrote some scene dialogue down for him until he could get the rights to put the play on."
"How?"
"I've seen the movie enough. It intrigued me because the Phantom and I share the same name. Even the correct spelling." My eyes grew wide. "Hey! That's right! I remember now!" And I really meant it. Most people say something like that so you'll shut up and leave them alone.
"Would anyone else like to try this scene?" Mr. Ellis asked. Silence. "Alright, let's go to another scene." He flipped a few pages in a notebook and I marveled. When did Erik get enough time to write all of that down? Does he keep that with him?
Mr. Ellis' eyes wandered till they rested on Erik. "Erik, why not you give it a try?" he asked. Erik got up and strode to the stage. Up there, he seemed perfectly happy and natural. Paulina was a nervous wreck.
I noticed Paulina shuffling around some papers and skimming over them frantically. "Oh, Paulina, just let Erik up there," Mr. Ellis told her. She looked slightly sad, but mostly relieved.
"What will you be performing?" Mr. Ellis asked. "The Music of the Night," Erik said. Mr. Ellis began to nod, but stopped short. "We need a Christine!" he bellowed. Erik motioned for me, and I cautiously got up.
I looked back at Danny, who was sitting beside me, but all he did was give me a thumbs-up sign and smiled. I walked up to the stage and took a few photocopied sheets of some of the script. I had no lines. Good. I just had to be escorted around, pretending to be hypnotized. Not so hard.
But I had never heard Erik sing. I hardly had to pretend! I felt just like Christine, with her Angel of Music singing a lullaby to her about dark and unknown things. I listened. And was amazed.
Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation.
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination.
Silently the senses abandon their defenses.
Here, he paused, and I noticed that he had donned a mask. To add to the effect, I figured. He grasped my hand, and I felt oddly giddy.
Slowly, gently, night unfurls it's splendor.
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender.
Turn your face away from the garish light of day.
Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light,
I felt his hand on my chin. I stared straight into his eyes; there's just something about him. Or maybe it's his acting. Don't know.
And listen to the music of the night.
He let go of my hand and took a few steps in front of me, gesturing around to an invisible Phantom's lair.
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams.
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before.
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar...
My head swirled. I hadnever heard falsetto before. Live, I mean, and he hit it perfectly. I felt indescribable. Happy and nervous and entranced and about a zillion other emotions.
And you'll live as you've never lived before.
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you.
Hear it, feel it secretly possess you.
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness that you know you cannot fight.
The darkness of the music of the night.
Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world.
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before.
Let your soul take you where you long to be.
Only then can you belong... to me.
He then held my shoulders gently. Then, to my horror, I felt his hand slipping down, down onto the rest of me. I winced slightly, and he stopped.
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication.
He took my hand in his and led my palm to is cheek. Wow, he really has seem the movie enough to know the motions. At least, I hoped that they were the motions in the song.
Touch me, trust me. Savor each sensation.
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write.
The power of the music of the night.
Here, he grasped my other hand and pulled me close. And stared into my eyes.
You alone can make my song take flight.
Help me make the music of the night...
He held the note out for so long, and I wished he wouldn't stop. Of course, he had to. And I broke out of my trance. I heard applause. "I think we found our Phantom,"Mr. Ellis assured.
Erik led me off of the stage.I smiled at him, but then realized that his mask was gone. Had I imagined it?
Several other auditions happened before we were excused to go home. Danny tried out as the role of Raoul, and he was really good! I should say so; I was Christine... again. So I wasn't surprised that he got the part. Erik hadn't tried out, since he already landed a role, and Dash was the only other person who tried.
Tucker landed the part of Firmin. It fit him fine, and was grateful for the part.
Andre was taken by an original drama club member. I felt bad. Only six or seven members were in permanent drama club, and most of them weren't good. Joseph and such parts were taken by the original members.
Madame and Meg Giry were taken by our French foreign exchange students. They were beaming. I was glad for them. Above anyone else, they deserved a part.
Now, who was gonna be Christine? Paulina was determined, but was trying too hard. She stumbled through the lyrics of a Ciara song—"1, 2, Step," was it called?—and everyone could tell she didn't know the song all too well.
My turn. I felt sick. I knew I couldn't top Erik's performance. I wasn't trying to. I really knew no songs from the movie, so I picked something with a wide variety of notes.
Playground school bell rings... again.
Rain clouds come to play... again.
Has no one told you she's not breathing?
Hello. I'm your mind, giving you someone to talk to.
Hello.
If I smile and don't believe,
Soon I know I'll wake from this dream.
Don't try to fix me, I'm not broken.
Hello. I'm the lie living for you so you can hide.
Don't cry.
Suddenly I know I'm not dreaming.
Hello, I'm still here.
All that's left of yesterday...
I heard applause again. Mostly from my friends and Mr. Ellis, but applause nonetheless. Since I was the last to give my audition for singing (the time I played Christine with Danny was counted as my acting part), Mr. Ellis stood up and announced the parts.
"Joseph Buquet – Tyler Powell
Ubaldo Piangi – Howard Davis
Madame Giry – Antoinette Bennet
Meg Giry – Marie Bennet
Richard Firmin – Tucker Foley
Gilles Andre – Marcus Bateman
Carlotta Giudicelli – Paulina Suarez
Raoul de Chagny – Danny Fenton
Christine Daae – Sam Manson
The Phantom – Erik Muhlheim."
I smiled. I was really happy for him. I mean, it's his first day, and he got a leading role! Well, I got a leading role, too, but it wasn't my first day. And so did Danny! This would be great!
"The rest of you shall be extras. If anyone wants a speaking part, or to teach choreography, see me later. The sets shall need to be started on immediately. Good bye!" Mr. Ellis dismissed.
"Hey, congratulations on your part!" I shouted to Erik. He was a good distance away from me, but stopped and smiled at me. "Yeah, you too!" he shouted back. I jogged slightly—something completely weird for me—and caught up with him.
"So... where do you live?" I asked, trying to make conversation. "I really don't know. It being my first day and all. Don't worry, though. I'll find it. Good bye, Sam." he said.
I began to walk home, but took a turn to go the store. Hopefully, they had The Phantom of the Opera, so I could learn my lines and stuff from it.
A little bell jingled above my head as I pushed the door open. Only two or three people were there. And I think that they were all employees.
I walked briskly to the movie rack, and saw it. Only one copy left. Or... that was the only one they had gotten. It was about twenty dollars, and I dished out a twenty and some change. Not a total loss. I could always get more at home.
When I had bought it, I only had two pennies left. Talk about close! I clutched the bag and rushed home. I was excited!
Ooh! What's gonna happen next! I have no clue. Why not you tell me? Yes! We can write this together. Is that legal? Dunno. I'll find out sooner or later.
Um, three reviews, please. If that's not too much to ask. If so, I'm sorry. Okay, that's about all I need to say.
-DaydreamingTurtle-