My Name is What?

Opening Night

After my restless night I woke to Meg shaking me again. 

"Honestly Christine, are you sure you're alright?" she asked as I sat up.

 "I'm fine. Sleep is just not the best for me right now. Probably from my head injury, I promise I'm okay," I tried reassuring her. 

"Okay, but hurry up. We have rehearsals again before tonight, and apparently Monsieur Lafevere has announcement that can change the whole production," she said excitedly.

"Alright, I'm coming," I say finally getting out of my bed.

After a small breakfast and quickly getting ready, everyone in the opera house was rushing to the stage for rehearsals. We had to go over "Hannibal Returns" because Piangi was still mispronouncing words. It was very obvious there was a nervous air being felt throughout everyone. But Piangi always sang like that and always had an excuse.

"Sad to return to the land we love, threatened once more by Roma's far-" he began to sing but was cutoff by Monsieur Reyer.

 "No no no. Rome. We say Rome. Not Roma!" the maestro expresses.

 "Rome, Rome is very hard for me-"

 "Yes well, let's start again from 'sad to return'."

 Piangi kept muttering 'Rome' to himself as all the dancers and chorus positioned ourselves. This is going to be a long rehearsal if this is to continue.

"Sad to return to the land we love, threatened once more by Rome's far reaching grasp. Tomorrow we shall break the chains of Rome, tonight rejoice! Your army has come home!" 

Finally, he sang his lines correctly and we reach the dance sequence before finishing the song. I feel like I'm floating as I ease my way through each step. Counting in my head so I don't miss a move or go ahead of the music, but I have worked hard for my position and intend to stay there. Meg is the head ballerina while her mother is the choreographer. This makes it incredibly competitive among all of the dancers, as this job allowed you to live in the opera house. 

We finish the scene and Madame Giry takes all of us dancers off to the side to continue giving us notes. Monsieur Lefevere, the owner of the opera house, I notice comes onto the stage with two men I have never seen before. It looks like he is trying to get everyone's attention but no one notices. He looks over to Madame Giry who walks center stage and with a loud BANG, slams her cane against the floor. Everyone is startled and focuses their attention to Monsieur Lefevere.

"Thank you," he simply states, "as you know, for some weeks there have been rumors about my eminent retirement. I can now tell you these were all true and it is now my pleasure to introduce you to the two gentlemen who now own the Opera Populaire. Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre," he says and gestures to the two men who walked in with him. Firmin is a short and somewhat stout man, with thinning hair and curly mustache. Along side him stands André who is clearly much younger than the latter, with a lean and lanky body. Clean shaven and a full head of hair. We all applaud and continue listening. I sit on the floor watching the new managers and question how they will possibly last with the diva Carlotta and the ghost. I bet he is the reason for Lefevere leaving.

"Gentlemen, Signora Carlotta Gudicelli. Our leading soprano for 19 seasons," Lefevere says as André takes her hand

 "Of course of course! I have experienced all of your greatest roles Signora."

She eyes him oddly and curtsy's. 

"Also Signor Ulbado Piangi" Lefevere states in the direction of Firmin.

"It's an honor sir," Firmin states unenthusiastically while shaking his hand. Andre continues to speak loudly with Carlotta, as I wonder how much he is going to deal with her in the future
\-=.