REYER: (interrupting him)

Signor… if you please: ‘Rome’. We say ‘Rome’, not ‘Roma)

PIANGI:

Si, Si, Rome, not Roma. Is very hard for me (practising) Rome… Rome

(Enter LeFEVRE, the retiring manager of the Opera, with MME, FIRMIN and MME ANDRE, to whom he has just sold it)

REYER: (To PIANGI)

Once again, then, if you please, Signor: ‘Sad to return…’

LeFEVRE: (To ANDRE and FIRMIN)

This way gentlemen, this way. Rehearsals, as you see, are under way for a new production of Chalumeau’s ‘Hannibal’

(Sensing a hiatus in the rehearsal, LeFEVRE attempts to attract attention)

LeFEVRE:

Ladies and Gentlemen, some of you may already perhaps, have met Mme Andre and Mme Firmin

(The new managers are politely bowing when REYER interrupts)

REYER:

I’m sorry, Mme LeFevre, we are rehearsing. If you wouldn’t mind waiting a moment?

(Turning back to PIANGI)

‘Sad to return…’ Signor

LeFEVRE: (sotto voice to ANDRE and FIRMIN)

Mme Reyer, our chief repetiteur. Rather a tyrant, I’m afraid

(The rehearsal continues)

PIANGI: (HANNIBAL)

Sad to return to find the land we love threatened once more by Rome’s far-reaching grasp. Tomorrow we shall break the chains of Rome. Tonight, rejoice- your army has come home

(The BALLET GIRLS began their dance. LeFEVRE, ANDRE and FIRMIN stand centre-stage watching the ballet, they are in the way. The ballet continues under the following dialogue)

LeFEVRE: (indicating TIM)

Signor PIANGI, our principal tenor. He does play so well opposite LA JENNIFER

GIRY: (Exasperated by their presence, bangs her cane angrily on the stage)

Gentlemen, please! If you would please move to one side?

LeFERVE:

My apologizes, Mme. Giry.

(leading ANDRE and FIRMIN aside)

Madame Giry, our ballet mistress. I don’t mind confessing, Mme. Firmin, I shan’t be sorry to be rid of the whole blessed business

FIRMIN
I keep asking you, Madame, why exactly are you retiring?

LEFEVRE (ignoring this, calls his attention to the continuing ballet):
We take a particular pride here in the excellence of our ballets.

(HELENA becomes prominent among the dancers)

ANDRE
Who’s that girl, Lefevre?

LEFEVRE
Her? Meg Giry, Madame Giry’s daughter. Promising dancer, M.
Andre, most promising.

(CHRISTINE becomes prominent. She has absent-mindedly fallen out-of-step)

GIRY (spotting her, bangs her cane again)
You! Christine Kennard! Concentrate, girl!