Hey guys. It took me a long time to type this one. Almost 6 pages long. Right now I'm listening to my 100 legaldownload of 'Heaven on their Minds', from 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. Well, as for the name of the character in the opera, Ericka, I didn't come up with the name, but my friend Jo did. It has nothing to do with Erik, or his life. I decided to put this in a two part thingie. The opera Erik wrote, was really written by Jo. I named a character after her in dedication, Jeanette. Anyway, in the next chapter, I decided to add some new peoples. People named after my friends. Well, this one contains a lot of lyrics. More like two songs. Here are the credits for the songs:

'Come What May' from: Moulin Rouge

'Here I Am (Finale)' from: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron


Chapter 9: A Tedious Audition Part:1

Erik cringed when a person auditioning, hit a wrong note. "Stop!" Erik yelled, trying to catch the singer's attention.

"Ok. Next… Carlotta." Erik yelled, telling her to get her butt on the stage and sing. He once again reminded himself why he had let her audition, "She will be cast as Ericka's mother, who is evil. That fits her personality perfectly." The music started. He didn't pay attention to her voice, because after all those long years in hiding, he had heard her enough. He was in total hell for all those years, and the five minutes she sang. He had to shut her up. "Ok. Thank you. That's enough." He said already with a growing headache, "You will be perfect for Ericka's mother. Come back tomorrow for your script and rehearsals." She looked upset for getting an inferior role, to her standards, and stopped off the stage. "Next." It was Christine's turn. As she stepped onto the stage, he sat up straighter, eager to hear her. "Madame Daaé, please sing, 'Come What May'." She started from the female vocals:

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place,

Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace.

Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste,

It all revolves you.

And there's no mountain too high,

No river too wide.

Sing out this song,

And I'll be there, by your side.

Storm clouds may gather,

And stars may collide.

But I love you, I love you,

Until the end of time.

Oh, come what may, come what may.

I will love you,

Until my dying day.

Oh, come what may, come what may.

I will love you, I will love you.

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place.

Come what may.

Come what may.

I will love you,

Until my dying day.

"Brava, Brava, Bravissimi!" He cheered. Christine beamed with pride, for not missing any notes. She had sung it perfectly. "Congratulations, Madame Daaé, you will be our new Ericka." Then he stood up and walked onto the stage. "Come back tomorrow, to get your script and the rehearsals.

"Merci, Monsieur Beaumount." She said as she curtsied slightly, "I would be honored to be your Ericka." She was about to hug him, But remembered about the stage cosmetics and that they aren't 'husband and wife' in front of other people.

"Now," He announced, clapping his hands together, to get attention, "the auditions for Jeanette. Clear the stage." He went back to his seat, and listened to about 5 other Mezzo-Sopranos sing. The majority of them, screwing up a note or two, automatically canceling them out of consideration of the part. Meg was the last person to audition. The person before her, Jazmin, sang almost perfectly. Meg was obviously nervous as she walked up to the middle of the stage. Before she sang, Erik tried to use his fake 'telepathic powers' to tell Meg, "Don't screw up. You can do it. Just sing it perfectly." His 'powers' must have worked, because when the music started, she sang perfectly. He voice was as clear as crystal. She sang beautifully, on pitch and with so much emotion. She truly gave it her best, and they both knew that. When she had finished, both of them had on huge grins. Erik stood up, to announce his choice. "It was a tough decision, but, I have decided to cast… Meg Giry as Jeanette. Congratulations. Like everyone else, please come by tomorrow to pick up your script. Thank you everyone for auditioning. You are all dismissed."

Meg ran to Christine and gave each other a hug. They both stated babbling about how well each other sang. As Erik let the women talk, he went over to the managers, who were at stage left, to affirm the cast members. He would have to return the next day to audition the males, for the parts of Pierre and Pierre's father, the two lead male roles. The role of Pierre was a tenor, and the one of his father was a bass. Luckily, the auditions wouldn't last long, and they would be able to rehearse the fist scene or two. Realizing that he had spent about fifteen minutes talking to Monsieur André and Firmin, he hurried back to the stage, but they weren't there. He searched the first place where he thought they might be at, and found the door open. There, in the dressing room, was Meg, with her back to the door, and Christine, who were still talking.

There, he sneaked behind Meg, gesturing to Christine, who had seen him, not to alert Meg of his presence. He slowly raised his hands and gently placed them down onto Meg's shoulders. She got terrified, and screamed in a high pitched voice. Christine and Erik were enjoying themselves and laughing hard. "Erik!" She said catching her breath, "That's not funny! And you two, Christine. That scared me." She then pointed to Christine who then, doubled over in laughter. "By the way, congratulations on the baby you two. My mother told me last night." Erik then regained his composure.

"Well, I'm sorry I sacred you Meg. And also thank you for the congratulaions. Christine," He said between chuckles, "we need to be going. I told you that we would work on your part more. Meg, I would love it if you would come down. But not right away. I think you might be too big of a distraction for someone." He eyed Christine.

"Of course." Meg replied, looking at Christine, "Would I be able to come in about an hour or so? My voice could use some training."

"Why not." Erik said, "Just ask your mother, and she will show you the trap door in her room. For this room is about to be occupied by someone. It wouldn't be safe." Just then Erik, shut the door to the dressing room, and opened the mirror. They both stepped inside and walked the long path to the lake. When they reached, the other side of the lake, they made their way towards the organ. Erik really wished that he had a piano not only an organ. The organ's notes were more solemn, and dreary, while the piano's notes were lively and happier. Not to mention, it is easier to sing to a piano, not an organ. "Here we go."

He said as he handed Christine her script. It was at least 100 pages long. It wasn't foreign to her, for she ha seen it while it was in progress. As Erik warmed up his fingers, she looked over her notes; the range was a high B to a G in the Bass clef. A huge range for a Soprano. He started 'Come What May' with a two-measure intro. For an hour or two, they were lost in a world of music, and music alone. Nothing, while in that world, would wake them out of it, it had cast its spell. That spell will also full upon Meg.


"Mother, Erik and Christine wanted me to do down, to have a lesson, and to look over my script. And you know, the asking permission, and the trap door, so… Can I go?" Meg asked her mother overly eager. It had already been at least two and a half-hours, and Erik had said in about an hour or so, and that time had already happened. He mother put down her cross-stitch project.

"Of course you may go. But, you can only stay for two hours. Any longer and I shall go down and get you. I know where it is, and I know many paths too." She replied warning Meg not to goof around down there. She stood up and led Meg to the left corner of the room, Madame Giry's room. There, she explained to Meg, "You just have to slide your hand down the corner groove, until you reach a small bump. Press slightly harder on it, and the trap door will open, some bricks will slide, and walk in. This path leads you to the music room, where they will most likely be. Whatever you do, walk straight, don't turn, or you might end up in The Torture Chamber. Here," she said, going to a table and picking up a lit candle, "take this with you. Don't let it blow out. Good luck. I shall get Erik to come and find you if you don't happen to return." With that said, Meg stepped into the dark tunnel and the door behind her closed. The passageway was pitch black except the little light the candle gave. It smelled of must, and was very hard to breathe in. Following her mother's directions, she walked straight, and never turned. About 15 minutes later, she reached the music room. As she opened the trap door, Erik and Christine turned around to face her.

"Welcome to our humble abode." Erik said with a gleam, "It's a good thing you didn't find the Torture Chamber. Come here to get your script and we shall start soon." With that said, she walked to the organ, and Erik handed her script. As she looked through the music, she noticed her range was a high G to an E in the Bass clef. A little lower than a normal Mezzo-Soprano range, but Meg could do it. Erik started to play the song. Her only solo in the performance. From when Jeanette first meets Ericka.

Here I am,

This is me.

I come into this world so wild and free.

Here I am,

So young and strong,

Right here in the place where I belong.

It's a new world,

It's a new start,

It's a life with a beating of a young heart.

It's a new day,

It's a new plan,

And it's been waiting for me.

Here I am.

Here I am,

I've just begun,

And after all this time my time has come.

Here I am,

Still going strong,

Right here in the place where I belong.

It's a new world,

It's a new star,

It's alive with the beating of a young heart.

It's a new day,

It's a new plan,

And it's been waiting for me.

Here I am.

Here I am.

Here I am.

Waiting for me.

Here I am,

This is me,

There's nowhere else on Earth I'd rather be.

Here I am,

So young an strong,

Right here in the place where I belong.

It's a new world,

It's a new start,

It's alive with the beating of a young heart.

It's a new day,

It's a new plan,

It's been waiting for me.

Here I am.

It's a new world,

It's a new start,

It's alive with a beating of a young heart.

It's a new day,

It's a new plan,

It's been waiting for me.

Here I am.

Here I am,

Oh right next to you,

And suddenly the world is all brand new.

Here I am, Here I am,

I'm gonna stay.

Now there's nothing standing in my way.

Oh Here I am.

Here I am.

This is me.

She sang well, but Erik wasn't satisfied. "You need to have more breath support. With out any, you can't sing correctly. When you sing, you must tighten you stomach muscles." He said, "Sing measure 50."

"It's a new day, It's a new start," She sang, when suddenly in the middle of it, Erik pressed hard against her stomach, causing her to tighten the muscles. With that done, it made her pitch and clarity adjust. "Wow. I sounded better." She said, thanking him in a way for basically punching her in her stomach.

"See. I told you; all you have to do is tighten your abdominal muscles. Tomorrow at the rehearsal, we are only going to practice scene 1 and possibly 2. Let's go over those. You two, take your normal lines, and I'll take all the extra lines." He said, as he stood up from the organ bench, and walked to the center of the room.

(These are only little clips of the scenes)

Ericka (Christine): Mother. Why must I get married? I still don't see.

Ericka's Mother (Erik): We shant let them have the country!

(Upset, she walks to her room, closes the door, and stares out the window onto the street.)

Ericka: Why can't I be the same as everyone else? (Her door is knocked.)

Jeanette (Meg): It's me, Jeanette. Open please?

Ericka: Oh my. (She opens the door, and seats her down.)

Jeanette: You look sad, what's the matter.

Ericka: Tonight I shall meet Pierre. But not like I care. This is arranged. For I am only nineteen. I can't do it.

Jeanette: Well, how does he look? Maybe you might change your mind.

Ericka: How am I to know? All I do know is that he is twenty-three. (They continue chatting, Scene is changed to Pierre's house.)

Pierre (Erik): Who is this Ericka? Who is she?

Pierre's Father (Erik): The Viscount's daughter. You must marry her. We shant let them have the country!

Pierre: I still don't understand. I've never even seen her. This isn't fair!

Pierre's Father: Why are you complaining. They happen all the time. No one really cares! You shall meet her in the next day.

Pierre: Fine! I will meet her. I'll do as you say. (The curtain closes. Scene is of the next day, and is in the woods. There we see Pierre and Ericka. They obviously meet.)

Pierre: By any chance, are you Ericka?

Ericka: Are you by chance, Pierre? (He bows.) I see! (Liking the way he looks.)

Pierre: Were you looking for someone handsome? You're most likely not looking at me.

Ericka: You're everything I wanted and more. I just didn't think an arranged meeting would end up like this.

Pierre: The only reason why my father wanted me to marry was:

Ericka/Pierre: We shant let them have the country!

Pierre: Now, I have another reason. I can't believe this. I think I'm in love.

(I wouldn't give away the next song.)

For during that time, Erik, Christine and Meg were uninterrupted, in their world of music and singing. Well, the only interruption would be Christine or Meg, giggling at Erik, who had to ask his character a question, and then answer it, himself. For the two hours were almost elapsed. "Meg, I think your two hours are almost up. You have done great." Erik praised her, "Take your script with you. You may want to look over it tonight. Be ready for tomorrow, and drink a lot of fluids. It won't be like dance rehearsals. It will be a lot different." Then, he and Christine showed her how to open the trap door from the inside of the lair. Sliding your hand down the corner of the wall next to the wall with the door. The same wall she came into first. The same mechanism as in her mother's room. She took her script and a lit candle and made her way back to her mother's room. In another 15 minutes she made it back. Antoinette was sitting on her bed, reading a book. As Meg stepped into the room, Madame Giry looked up from her book.

"I was just about to go get Erik. But, you made it in time." She said, "You need to get to bed. As you probably been reminded many times, I will repeat it, you have a big day tomorrow. You need to get your rest. Remember, singing rehearsals aren't like our dancing ones." Meg then walked out of her mother's room and down the hall to her's.


Here is my chapterly excerpt.

Chapter 10: A Tedious Audition Part:2

As Javier stepped onto the stage, Erik knew that he had the right talent to be cast as Pierre. Now he just needed him to sing. The orchestra started and he started to sing, 'Don't Let Go'.

"Congratulations, Javier," Erik praised, "You shall be our new Pierre. Come to me to pick up your script. Rehearsals are in about an hour. You need to look over it." Javier then walked over to Erik and got his script, before he left, he bowed to Erik

That's all I'll give. My friends that I add are; Lauren, Marissa, and Ana. I hope y'all like the next one. It will have lyrics in it, and it should be long.

Please R&R.