ANDRÉ

M'sieur Firmin?


FIRMIN

M'sieur André?


FIRMIN

Dear André,

what a splendid party!


ANDRÉ

The prologue

to a bright new year!


FIRMIN

Quite a night!

I'm impressed!


ANDRÉ

Well, one does

one's best...


ANDRÉ/FIRMIN

Here's to us!


FIRMIN

I must say,

all the same, that

it's a shame that 'Phantom'

fellow isn't here!


CHORUS

Masquerade!

Paper faces on parade...

Masquerade!

Hide your face,

so the world will

never find you!


Masquerade!

Every face a different shade...

Masquerade!

Look around - 

there's another

mask behind you!


Flash of mauve...

Splash of puce...

Fool and king...

Ghoul and goose...

Green and black...

Queen and priest...

Trace of rouge...

Face of beast...


Faces...

Take your turn, take a ride

on the merry-go-round...

*in an inhuman race...

*

*Eye of gold...

Thigh of blue...

True is false...

Who is who...?

Curl of lip...

Swirl of gown...

Ace of hearts...

Face of clown...


Faces...

Drink it in, drink it up,

till you've drowned

in the light...

in the sound...


RAOUL/CHRISTINE

But who can name the face...


ALL

Masquerade!

Grinning yellows,

spinning reds...

Masquerade!

Take your fill - 

let the spectacle

astound you!


Masquerade!

Burning glances,

turning heads...

Masquerade!

Stop and stare

at the sea of smiles

around you!


Masquerade!

Seething shadows,

breathing lies...

Masquerade!

You can fool

any friend who

ever knew you!


Masquerade!

Leering satyrs,

peering eyes...

Masquerade!

Run and hide -

but a face will

still pursue you!


GIRY

What a night!


MEG

What a crowd!


ANDRÉ

Makes you glad!


FIRMIN

Makes you proud!

All the crème

de la crème!




*CARLOTTA

*Watching us watching them!

*

*MEG/GIRY

*And all our fears

*are in the past!

*

*ANDRÉ

*Six months...


PIANGI

Of relief!


CARLOTTA

Of delight!


ANDRÉ/FIRMIN

Of Elysian peace!


*MEG/GIRY

*And we can breathe at last!

*

*CARLOTTA

*No more notes!


PIANGI

No more ghosts!


GIRY

Here's a health!


ANDRÉ

Here's a toast:

to a prosperous year!


FIRMIN

To the new chandelier!


*PIANGI/CHARLOTTA

*And may its

*splendour never fade!

*

*FIRMIN

*Six months!

*

*GIRY

*What a joy!


MEG

What a change!


FIRMIN/ANDRÉ

What a blessed release!


ANDRÉ

And what a masquerade!


CHRISTINE

Think of it!

A secret engagement!

Look - your future bride!

Just think of it!


RAOUL

But why is it secret?

What have we to hide?


CHRISTINE

Please, let's not fight...


RAOUL

Christine, you're free!


CHRISTINE

Wait till the time is right...


RAOUL

When will that be?

It's an engagement,

not a crime!


Christine,

what are you

afraid of?


CHRISTINE

Let's not argue...


RAOUL

Let's not argue...


CHRISTINE

Please pretend...


*RAOUL

*I can only hope I'll...

*

*CHRISTINE

*You will...


BOTH

..understand

in time...


ALL

Masquerade!

Paper faces on parade...

Masquerade!

Hide your face,

so the world will

never find you!


Masquerade!

Every face a different shade...

Masquerade!

Look around - 

there's another

mask behind you!


Masquerade!

Burning glances,

turning heads...

Masquerade!

Stop and stare

at the sea of smiles

around you!


Masquerade!

Grinning yellows,

spinning reds...

Masquerade!

Take your fill - 

let the spectacle

astound you