Whoo! Happy New Year!!! After such a lame first chapter let's try our luck with chapter two. Now we'll see that they weren't exactly talking about a naïve Swedish chick...
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"Hannibal" or "Fifty Years Earlier While They're Rehearsing For Something Odd"We find ourselves again inside the cavernous Opera Populaire. However, it's just slightly nicer looking now. Not quite so…crumbly. In any case, the place is filled with people in the midst of a rehearsal for…something. We can't be quite sure what as the lead soprano, Carlotta, is "singing" rather incomprehensibly while holding something that looks vaguely like a human head. The rest of the cast soon joins her, including a talented group of ballerinas, all equally ridiculously costumed. It looks like they might need more practice because Carlotta seems to think she needs to remain center stage while the dancers unwittingly tread on her dress.
Unfortunately, (or fortunately depending on how you're looking at it) their rehearsal is interrupted by the appearance of…
"Monsieur Lefevre, I am rehearsing!"
"Monsieur Reyer, Madame Giry, ladies and gentlemen, please. If I can have your attention, thank you. As you know, for some weeks, there have been rumors of my imminent retirement. I can now tell you that these were all true, and it is my pleasure to introduce you to the two gentlemen who now own the Opera Populaire; Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gil Andre."
Right on cue the new managers smile and wave at their new charges. The shorter of the two, Andre, is practically hopping.
Oh, marvelous. Is it that difficult to find managers who can spell opera? Erik is going to be just thrilled…
These are the thoughts of the ballet mistress, Madame Giry, who barely contains a look of disgust while observing the pair of them whom, she is informed, made their fortune selling trash.
"And we pleased to introduce our new patron," Firmin was saying. His friend finished his sentence.
"The Vicomte de Chagny!"
And, in walks the dashing Raoul. Instantly he starts into a speech so obviously rehearsed you might think it was the same one he uses to receive his Greasy Haired Nobleman of the year awards.
"My parents and I are honored to support all of the arts. Especially the world renowned Opera Populaire."
Meanwhile on the other side of the stage…
"Oooo!" squeals little Meg Giry, poking her friend in the back, "Oo look, it's Raoul." She pronounces his name as though it's some sort of luxury that no ballet rat should think about. The curly haired girl whom she was addressing, however, is looking in any direction but at the patron.
"Really? I didn't notice." She finally replies. The sarcasm of the statement is lost on the younger dancer.
"Come on, get over here, Victoria! He has to see you!" She was shoving her now, trying to move her out of the corner she was in.
"I'd really rather not…"
"Why?!? You were childhood sweethearts," again, overemphasized, "Just imagine what he'd say if he saw you!"
"Oh, er…sweethearts? Well…" Victoria shuffles away once more. Then, thankfully, the rich bachelor leaves the building. "Oh, what a shame, he left." A small sigh of relief.
"You should have let him see you! Made a noise to get his attention! I'm sure he's be thrilled to see you!"
Meg may only be two years younger than her friend but she is infinitely more immature. She's never had an admirer, unless you count the odd stagehand, and therefore has no idea as to why her best friend wishes to avoid a boy she was admired by almost ten years earlier.
The rehearsal soon recommences and seems to be running fairly smoothly, until the inevitable happens.
"All they want is the dancing!" whines the prima donna. On the sidelines the new managers discuss the upcoming Gala stating that the Vicomte is "very excited". He, of course, fully convinced everyone of that through his one-minute speech.
"I hope that he is as excited by dancing girls as your new managers. Because I will not be singing!"
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Ta Da! I'll leave it there for now.
Happy New Year one and all!
Please read and review!
Your Obedient Authoress,
M.E.
