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!

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

Please, let's not fight . . .

RAOUL

Christine, you're free!

CHRISTINE

Wait till the time is right . . .

RAOUL

When will that be?

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 I'll . . .

CHRISTINE

You will . . .

BOTH

. . . understand in time . . .

ALL

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!