His Voice as Soft as Thunder

Act 1 - Scene 2: Overture/Hannibal

Some men standing by walked over to the large, covered item in the centre of the floor. With a giant flick the cloth was whipped off and sparks began to fly as the power was turned on and the chandelier came to life. The men coughed as the dust flew into their face, watching as the chandelier slowly began to rise to the ceiling and illuminating the remains of the theatre.

It seemed to the elderly men that the theatre was repairing itself. The dust dancing around the room seemed to remind them of the vibrant colours of the theatre. They gasped as they found themselves remembering the day it all began.

1871

"I'm so tired." a young woman sighed as she and her friend tied up their pointe slippers and prepared themselves for their rehearsal.

"Your lesson didn't go so well?" her friend chuckled.

"Not really. The last cadenza of tonight's aria really stumped me. He would not let me go until I perfected it."

"Why is he so hell bent on you learning this production's songs?"

The young woman sighed as they hurried down the staircase, joining the other staff of the Populaire.

"I don't know. He seems to think I'm the one going to sing it." the young woman frowned as they positioned themselves in the line forming at the bar, and began to warm up as the leading lady belched out her solo.

"From our saviours, from our sa~viours! From the enslaving force of Rome!" The music picked up as the choir joined on stage. The chorus girls made their way to the wings of the stage, watching as the group pushed their way in front of the leading lady. As the song continued the girls continued their conversation quietly.

"Why would you be singing it?" the young woman's friend laughed in disbelief. "Don't get me wrong _________, I don't doubt you can sing, I just doubt that you'd be good for the Populaire."

"It's fine Meg, I don't think I would be worthy either. But my tutor, he is adamant that I sing these songs and sing them to his liking."

Meg sighed as they continued to watch the trainwreck of a rehearsal, _________ slightly aware that there were a pair of eyes watching her in the shadows. She shivered slightly at the feeling knowing it was him.

"Sad return to find the land we loved, threatened once more by Roma's far reaching grasp" The spherical leading man made his appearance on stage, the music stopping in a mess as the frantic conductor corrected his pronunciation. As they were preparing to start from the beginning of the bar, three men dressed in fine suits barged through the staff as they conversed.

"Rehearsals as you can see are under way for our new production of Challameu's Hannibal." A tired looking man's voice was heard as the members settled down.

"Monsieur Lefevre I am rehearsing!" The conductor scolded as he wiped his sweat-soaked forehead with a plain white handkerchief. The performers gathered around as Lefevre began to speak to them.

"Monsieur Reyer, Madame Giry, ladies and gentlemen if I could have your attention please. As you know, for some time there have been rumours of my imminent retirement. I can now tell you that these are all true and I would like to introduce you all to the two gentlemen who now own the Opera Populaire; Monsieur Richard Firmin, and Monsieur Gilles Andre."

"And we are deeply honoured to introduce the new Patron, the Vicomte de Changy" a rather tall man interjected Lefevre as he and a stout man pushed their way in front of the old manager. _________'s eyes lit up as she heard his name, and before she knew it he had waltzed by her, his hair bouncing with every step, his scent reminiscent of days long since passed.