Masquerade/Why So Silent?

LETRA

Masquerade/Why So Silent?

[The gauze lifts fully to reveal the staircase of the opera house. The opera ball begins. Among the GUESTS are four carrying strange percussion instruments: a monkey with cymbals, a toy soldier with a drum, a triangle, bells. Together they play weirdly throughout.]

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

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...

But who can name the face?

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 ANDRÉ, FIRMIN, MEG, GIRY, PIANGI and CARLOTTA come to the fore, glasses in hand]

What a night

What a crowd

Makes you glad

Makes you proud
All the crême de la crême