Andrew Lloyd Webber - Masquerade

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!

(The ENSEMBLE activity becomes background, as ANDRE, FIRMIN, MEG, GIRY, PIANGI and CARLOTTA come to the fore, glasses in hand)

GIRY
What a night

MEG
What a crowd!

ANDRE
Makes you glad!

FIRMIN
Makes you proud! All the creme de la creme!

CARLOTTA
Watching us watching them!

MEG/GlRY
And all our fears are in the past!

ANDRE
Six months...

PIANGI
Of relief!

CARLOTTA
Of delight!

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Of Elysian peace!

MEG/GIRY
And we can breathe at last!

CARLOTTA
No more notes!

PIANGI
No more ghost!

GIRY
Here's a health!

ANDRE
Here's a toast: to a prosperous year!

FIRMIN
To the new chandelier!

PIANGI/CARLOTTA
And may its splendour never fade!

FIRMIN
Six months!

GIRY
What a joy!

MEG
What a change!

FIRMIN/ANDRE
What a blessed release!

ANDRE
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
You promised me

RAOUL
You promised me

CHRISTINE
No Raoul, please don't,
They'll see!

RAOUL
Well, then let them see.
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

BOTH
I'll/You will ...
...Understand in time...

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!
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!