Il Muto
Il Muto (The Mute) is a fictional comic opera written by Albrizzio and set within the musical The Phantom of the Opera, similar to the grand opera Hannibal and Don Juan Triumphant. The opera is supposedly based on, or is a parody of, The Marriage of Figaro.
Plot of Il Muto
In the Phantom of the Opera musical and in the film's plot (a.k.a. Act I)
A salon in the grand house of the Count and Countess.
A wealthy Countess (played by Carlotta Giudicelli) falls in love with her mute pageboy Serafimo (played by Christine Daaé). To avoid the wrath of her husband, Don Attilio (played by Ubaldo Piangi in the film and a chorus member in the stage show), the Countess has Serafimo disguise himself as her maid. Don Attilio senses the deception and devises a plan to see if his wife has been unfaithful. He tells the Countess he is leaving for England and pretends to leave the room, but conceals himself behind a screen in order to spy on her. Convinced that her deception was a success, the Countess removes Serafimo's disguise and passionately kisses him (aria: Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh).
The scene is momentarily interrupted when the Phantom expresses his anger over the fact that Raoul is occupying Box Five. The cast attempts to resume the aria only to be interrupted once again when the Phantom reduces Carlotta's voice to a frog-like croak. The managers announce that the performance will resume after a short intermission with Christine taking Carlotta's place. The events that supposedly occur in this scene are unknown because of the interruptions and subsequent intermission.
Act III
Although the plot of this act is unknown, it features a ballet entitled "Dance of the Country Nymphs".[1] During the ballet, the Phantom's shadow is cast on the backdrop as he chases chief stagehand Joseph Buquet through the rafters. Buquet is then strangled with the punjab lasso and his corpse is left to hang from the rafters.
Cast of Characters
- Countess: a wealthy noblewoman who is engaged in a passionate affair with her pageboy.
- Serafimo, the Page: a mute pageboy who is engaged in a passionate affair with his mistress.
- Don Attilio, the Count: a wealthy nobleman and the Countess' husband who suspects his wife has been unfaithful to him.
- The Maid: a young domestic servant who is serving the Countess and is aware of her relationship with Serafimo.
- The Countess' Jeweller: a domestic servant who is serving the Countess and is aware of her relationship with Serafimo.
- The Countess' Hairdresser: a domestic servant who is serving the Countess and is aware of her relationship with Serafimo.
- The Countess' Confidante: a noblewoman and close friend of the Countess who is aware of her relationship with Serafimo.
- Shepherds & Shepherdesses
References
- ↑ Perry, George. The Complete Phantom of the Opera. New York: n.p., 1987. 153. Print.