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1.
The novel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera
2. The author- Gaston Leroux http://www.online-literature.com/leroux/
3. The movie http://phantomthemovie.warnerbros.com/
4. The setting-The Grand Opera House in Paris
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Paris_Opera.html
5. The characters- http://www.musicalsonline.com/phantom/charact.htm
6. Lyrics http://www.lyricsandsongs.com/lyrics/PHANTOM_OF_THE_OPERA.html
7. Symbolism of Colors http://www.umich.edu/~umfandsf/symbolismproject/symbolism.html/
The play:
Prologue
It is 1911 and the contents of the Paris Opera House are being auctioned
off. Present are the auctioneer, porters and bidders. Raoul, now seventy
years old and in a wheelchair, buys a poster and a music box. As the auctioneer
displays the Opera House chandelier, he explains that it is connected
with the legend of The Phantom of the Opera. With a flash of light, the
audience is flung back in time, when the Paris Opera was at its height.
Act I
We are thrust in the middle of a rehearsal for the opera Hannibal. Monsieur
Lefèvre, the retiring manager of the Opera, is showing the new
managers, Monsieurs Firmin and André, the great stage. As the prima
donna, Carlotta, is singing, a backdrop falls to the floor, nearly killing
her. The cry is raised, "It's The Phantom of the Opera!" Upset,
Carlotta refuses to sing.
Meg Giry, daughter of the ballet mistress, Madame Giry, suggests her friend,
Christine Daaé, take Carlotta's place. Christine has been taking
lessons from a mysterious new teacher.
At her triumph in the Opera, is Raoul, a nobleman and patron of the Opera.
Raoul recognizes Christine as a childhood friend. He comes backstage after
the performance to escort her to dinner, but Christine tells him she cannot
go, because her teacher, "The Angel of Music," is very strict.
When Raoul leaves Christine's room, the Phantom appears. Christine is
lured into the bowels of the Opera House, where the Phantom will continue
her lessons.
He leads her to his underground lair, where she sees a frightening vision
of herself in a wedding gown. She faints, only to be awakened several
hours later by the Phantom's music on the organ. Creeping up behind him,
she rips off his mask. Horrified, he takes her back to the surface.
The Phantom has sent notes to both the managers of the Opera, as well
as Raoul, Madame Giry and Carlotta, which give instructions that Christine
will have the lead in the new opera, Il Muto. The manager's refuse to
give in to the Phantom's demands.
Il Muto proceeds as planned, with Carlotta in the lead, and Christine
in a secondary role. As promised, disaster strikes - the stage hand, Joseph
Buquet, is killed, and Carlotta's voice is stolen.
In the confusion, Raoul and Christine escape to the roof of the Opera
House. There, with all of Paris around them, they pledge their love to
one another. They cannot see the Phantom overhearing their vows of love.
Enraged at Christine's betrayal, the Phantom causes the final disaster
of the night - the mighty chandelier comes crashing to the stage floor.
Act II
The second act opens at a grand Masquerade Ball, held on the steps of
the Paris Opera. No one has heard from the Phantom in six months. Christine
and Raoul are engaged, but are keeping it a secret; Christine keeps her
engagement ring on a chain around her neck.
Suddenly, the Phantom appears, disguised as The Red Death, and delivers
to the managers a score from his opera, Don Juan Triumphant.
At first, the managers refuse to perform the strange, disturbing opera.
Then, with the help of Raoul, they devise a plan to trap the Phantom,
using Christine as bait. Plans for Don Juan Triumphant, and the trap,
are made.
Christine visits the grave of her father. There on the grave stands the
Phantom, beckoning her to join him. Raoul appears and takes her away.
At last, the opening night of Don Juan Triumphant arrives. The theater
is surrounded by guards and police, eager to catch the Phantom. As the
opera comes to its end, the Phantom takes the place of Piangi, the lead
singer. He confronts Christine on stage during the performance, and escapes
with her once more to his labyrinth below the Opera House.
In a last confrontation, the Phantom gives Christine a choice: stay with
him forever, or he will kill Raoul. Her decision brings to an end the
story of The Phantom of the Opera.
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