Chapter 28: La Prima Donna

Auditioning finished off smoothly, Erik couldn't have been happier, and soon the Opera Populair was far more crowded and noisy than it had every been. The new and the old company members meshed well together and were quickly thrown into rehearsals for the quickly approaching show date. Posters of Meg flanked the outside of the building. This infuriated Christine, she wasn't even mentioned on the posters. Within the wall the practice spaces were filled with the music and the dancing that was to be associated with the show. It was a joyous time for many of the company members. They were happy and yet they worked harder than they had ever worked before. The opera was taking on a life of its own and taking over the theatre itself. There was no time for anything but the Phantom's new opera and all were busier than they had every imagine being.

Erik was pleased to see the progress of the actor, singers and dancers for the show. Costumes were coming together quickly and so were the set. A new dedication filled the cast as the theatre transformed. He had never heard a better ensemble play at the opera, he was happy he had hand picked the musicians. The one that he was most pleased with, however, was the virtually unknown tenor he had chosen to be the lead. Rene Roi was a quick learner to say the least. He was picking up the dance part of his roll like it was second nature to him. His voice was pure and strong and his presence on stage was bold and captivating. Erik had worked closely with the man. It was true that no one had ever seen the Phantom of the Opera as much as they had now. He was always among them and though he still made shivers run up the backs of some, and brought great fear to other, he worked his magic with the cast. They were more and more determined to please him as he moved them around the stage.

The other miraculous moment was any time that Meg took the stage. She had become very quiet since the audition period, spending most of her time in the quiet solitude of the Phantom's underground palace. There she was happy and alone, free to work at her craft as he had done his and this pleased him. He had been so busy with the rest of the opera that in the evenings he was more exhausted than he had every been and to sit back and simply watch Meg was a great pleasure for him. All of her solitary practice really payed off. The moments when she did take the stage in rehearsal, she lit up the stage. Her dance was mesmerising. Even though it had been well choreographed it was hard to say that the dance ever looked the same. It was brilliant and colourful and filled with strong emotions. The Devils Lament, most of all, was breath taking. It brought tears to the eyes of the strongest men. It was like she had adopted some of the Phantom's magic and the cast respected and feared her for it but the show would never happen without her. She was the life, the heart and soul of the drama. So much of herself, and her emotion was in the character, no one could have done a better job.

But there was one thing that wasn't working out. Christine had become worse than ever before. Every night between seven and nine the Phantom would go to her and he would teach her but she made no progress. Night after night she would sing, and as he had feared, her voice had lost what he had once loved so dearly. It wasn't that she didn't have the talent to be brilliant. She had lost the love and the passion for the art. Her goal was fame and fortune and it showed in her behaviour. She ordered the cast members around as a true prima donna. Some even complained that she was worse that La Carlotta. It was true she was becoming more and more frustrating and flamboyant as the days went on.

Soon the dress rehearsals were staged and nerves of everyone ran very high. The day of the opening drew near, within a week the theatre would be full of spectators. Already, Andre and Firmin had sold out the first few night and had to book more viewing of the show. Publicity was running high for everyone. Still, Erik managed to stay out of the spot light. He had remained calm and collected, no great rumours had sprouted up out of no where. He was relieved to know that everything would, possible, run smoothly and that the focus of the public was not on him but on the art. This is what he had hoped for. It was this renewed interest in the art that would save the Opera Populair.

Dress rehearsals ran well, the cast was tight, the dancers perfectly synchronised, the costumes and sets were brilliant and believable. Unfortunately, by the end of the first dress rehearsal tempers were running high. Christine was pushing herself around like a queen, yelling and cursing the others who got in her way. It was starting to sink in that her roll wasn't to be the primary focus, that spot was reserved for Meg. This angered Christine to no ends, until she decided to take matters into her own hands. They were drawing near the end of the opera. Christine and Meg had to share the stage. It was a part that had been working well enough, as Meg didn't want to get involved in Christine's drama. Christine, however, had other plans. She pranced around the stage, nearly screaming her pain at Meg, who's silent dance spoke volumes to the character she was mocking. Christine was taking everything personally until finally she ran at Meg and pushed her to the ground.

"Who do you think you are!" Christine screamed, "upstaging me, prancing around like you own the stage."

"What is going on!" Erik yelled from box five.

"I know your game," Christine hissed as Meg stared up at her completely struck with shock, "but unfortunately for you I am the better player. It is I who is the most loved in this cast and there is no way you could ever upstage me!"

"I'm not trying to," Meg said as she struggled to get up, "I'm simply doing as I have been told."

"You are so full of yourself," Christine laughed, "so you say you are not trying to be the star, to upstage me. I am the great Christine Daae, people are flocking to the theatre to see me sing because I am the one that the Phantom loves and you can't stand it can you. You couldn't bare to think that he had already chosen me to play the angel of this drama. Why else would you be the devil you terrible, seductress. You with your dancing and you flirting."

"Meg are you ok?" Rene asked as he rushed over to help her up.

"You stay away from her!" Christine yelled and pulled him away, jealousy rising in her, "so that's you game is it, get all of the men in this cast to fall in love with you, ha, you are pathetic. Don't you get it, you'll never be me. You'll never have what I have because you cannot sing as I do and it is my voice that he loves and that they will all love. Your dance can only do so much for you." She laughed manically.

By now everyone had stopped to watched what was going on. Meg had stumbled again from the fall, she was hurt. Rene pushed past Christine and helped Meg up. Tears had filled her eyes as she limped off to one side of the stage.

"Come back here and face me," Christine screamed.

"You know what, Carlotta, I don't have to take this," Meg said as great tears of anger flowed down her face, "so long as you are on this stage I will not be."

"You lie!" Christine laughed, "you'd never abandon the Phantom."

Meg's face grew red with tears. Everyone was looking, listening to every word, even Erik. He stood horror struck as the two women faced off.

"Or maybe that's your game," Christine said more forcefully, "you are jealous of my renown. I am Christine Daae, the Phantom's first love, returned to take centre stage in his opera. But no you can't have that, you want my fame, you want to see me off the stage. I could tell from the moment I saw you again. You were shocked to see me come back because you know you could never take my place in his heart. I will not give you that satisfaction. You may think that you have won him over, but you haven't. Why would he be coming to me every night. He loves my voice, always had and he always will. That is why I am the star of this show. Now do as you are told and stand aside. This is my spotlight and my greatest moment," she screamed and suddenly Meg felt the sting of Christine's hand across her face.

Ballerina's huddled together in fear. Madame Giry made to move them away from the commotion on the stage. Meg stood, not moving, stunned by the shock of the blow. Christine was clearly going crazy, what had happened to her once she had left. Anger and hurt flowed through every inch of Meg's body. She pulled herself up tall and straight, limping a little on her left foot, "how dare you use him that way," Meg's voice shook as she spoke. She could see Erik in the crowd, his face covered by the mask and she felt pity beyond comprehension for him, "he's not a puppet for you to dangle before people when you feel you need publicity, when your fame is dwindling and your talent lost by your corrupted mind. He is a genius and a person, not a possession that you or anyone will ever own or hold rights to. People must learn to recognise him for his talent and not for his past, and certainly not because of you. He is not your spot light Christine, that went out a long time ago. If you want the public to love you and flock to see you again, you had better work harder at your craft and sing like you've never sung before, because you have lost what you once had and you know you have. It is not his job to save you after what you did to him. That is your responsibility now," Meg yelled as tears flowed down her face.

"How dare you speak to me that way," Christine screamed, rage in her eyes and her voice, "you know nothing of how wonderful I am. You could never see it through your jealousy. You are a no body, Meg Giry. A simple ballerina that will never see the outside of this theatre because you don't have what it takes to move away from it!"

"That is enough!" Erik yelled. "Rehearsal is over. All of you back to the practice halls, everyone needs a lot of work," he hissed and slowly the crowd dispersed.

Slowly he turned to Christine and a triumphant looked crossed her face. She had gotten in the last word. She had won the battle and now she was to be rewarded for her loyalty to the Phantom. She batted her eyes, pleased with herself.

"As for you," he said anger burning in his eyes, "you can be replaced!" he spat at her, "this is my opera and my theatre and you should have never returned."

She was shocked, was she really hearing what she had just heard? Erik turned suddenly away from her and moved slowly over to Meg, he pulled her close to him, "can you walk?" he asked softly.

Meg nodded weekly but held tightly to him for support. They walked off stage together. Christine was left alone on the stage, her spirits crushed, humiliation rising where anger and pride had once resided.

"They'll be no lesson tonight, or tomorrow night Christine, never again will I come to teach you," Erik said as he looked back over his shoulder at the stunned Diva, "you are to take a place in the chorus, you'll never sing lead in a masterpiece of mine ever again."