Notes.../Prima Donna

Notes.../Prima Donna
[FIRMIN is scornfully eyeing a newspaper article]
"Mystery after gala night,"
It says, "Mystery of sopranos flight!"
"Mystified," baffled Sûreté say
"We are mystified. We suspect foul play!"

Bad news on soprano scene
First Carlotta, now Christine
Still at least the seats get sold
Gossip's worth its weight in gold
What a way to run a business
Spare me these unending trials
Half your cast disappears
But the crowd still cheers
Opera!
To hell with Gluck and Handel
It's a scandal that'll pack 'em in the aisles!
Damnable!
Will they all walk out?
This is damnable!
André, please don't shout
It's publicity, and the take is vast
Free publicity
But we have no cast!
But André, have you seen the queue?
[He has been sorting mail on his desk. Finding the two letters from the PHANTOM:]
Oh, it seems you've got one, too
[He hands the letter to ANDRE, who opens it and reads:]
"Dear André, what a charming gala!
Christine enjoyed a great success
We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left
Otherwise, the chorus was entrancing
But the dancing was a lamentable mess"

"Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder
My salary has not been paid
Send it care of the Ghost by return of post
P.T.O. No one likes a debtor
So it's better if my orders are obeyed!"
Who would have the gall to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain
These are both signed "O.G."
Who the hell is he?
Opera Ghost!
It's really not amusing
He's abusing our position
In addition, he wants money
He's a funny sort of spectre