Random oneshots---REQUESTS ARE OPEN!

The Phantom of the Opera- All I Ask Of You

"Serafimo - your disguise is perfect." Carlotta acts as we perform. Tonight she is playing the role of Countess in the production of Il Muto. I am also in it but have been cast as the silent role.

Then we hear Piangi knock at the door.

"Who can this be?" Carlotta questions.

"Gentle wife, admit your loving husband." Piangi sings as Don Attilio.

"My love - I am called to England on affairs of State, and must leave you with your new maid." Piangi continues but turns to the audience with a smirk. "Though I'd happily take the maid with me."

"The old fool's leaving!" Carlotta turns to the audience too.

"I suspect my young bride is untrue to me. I shall not leave, but shall hide over there to observe her!" Piangi cackles, to the audience.

"Addio!" Piangi bows

"Addio!" Carlotta curtsies.

"Addio!" Both smile.

He goes, pretending to leave, then hides and watches the action.

"Serafimo - away with this pretence!" Carlotta turns to me with a fake smile.

I rip off my, well Serafimo's, skirt to reveal my manly breeches.

"You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence!"Carlotta leans forward, as do I, and hides our faces with her fan so it seems to the audience that we are kissing.

"Poor fool, he makes me laugh!
Haha,
Haha!
Time I tried to get a better better half !" Carlotta laughs, singing.

"Poor fool, he doesn't know!
Hoho,
Hoho!
If he knew the truth, he'd never, ever go!" Carlotta and the chorus sing together.

Suddenly from nowhere, a voice filled entirely with anger echoes around the room. The Phantom...

"Did I not instruct that Box Five was to be kept empty?"

"He's here: the Phantom of the Opera . . ." Meg sings terrified.

"It's him . . . I know it . . . it's him . . ." I whisper, fearful of what he may do.

Carlotta, finding a scapegoat in me, hisses at me. "Your part is silent, little toad!"

"A toad, madame? Perhaps it is you who are the toad . . ." The Phantom growls.

Carlotta and the conductor confer and pick up from the opening of the
scene.

"Serafimo, away with this pretence!
You cannot speak, but kiss me in my-CROAK!"

Instead of singing she emits a great croak like a toad. A stunned silence fills the theatre. Carlotta is as amazed as anyone but regains herself and continues. More perturbing, however, is a new sound: the Phantom is laughing -quietly at first, then more and more hysterically

"Poor fool, he makes me laugh -
Hahahahaha!
CROAK, CROAK, CROAK, CROAK, CROAK, CROAK!"

The Phantom's laughter rises. The croaking continues as the chandelier's lights blink on and off causing panic to course through me. The Phantom's laughter, by this time overpowering, now crescendos into a great cry of joy.

"Behold! She is singing to bring down the chandelier!" The Phantom taunts.

Carlotta looks tearfully up at the managers' box and shakes her head. I place a gentle hand on her shoulder and she looks at me tearful. I rub her shoulder and she breaks downs crying.