(A vertical line of **** indicates areas of the text where there is a

substantial overlapping of different voices)





ANDR

M'sieur Firmin?



FIRMIN

M'sieur Andr?



FIRMIN

Dear Andr,

what a splendid party!



ANDR

The prologue

to a bright new year!



FIRMIN

Quite a night!

I'm impressed!



ANDR

Well, one does

one's best...



ANDRFIRMIN

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...



RAOULCHRISTINE

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