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This month, Write...Edit...Publish's prompt is The Phantom of the Opera, rather a dark prompt, perhaps just in time for Halloween.
Tagline: What do we learn when we close our eyes?
"First Time"
Christine stood in the wings of the
makeshift theater, a sheet for a curtain, the audience, her classmates. She
shivered. They didn’t like her. She peeked at the slip of paper Mr. Gaudet had
given her. Improvise, he had said. This is how we learn to act. Maybe, if she
did well, she could make friends before her family moved. Again.
She shook her head. Mr. Gaudet
nodded at her. Now. She stepped to the front of the raised platform, closed her
eyes to the darkness within, and began to speak slowly into a room of silence.
Her words lifted into the air, as if they were birds flying away from her,
carrying all her sadness and fear with them. In that moment, she was truly someone
else, lost in thoughts of another time, another world.
She stopped and opened her eyes.
The students burst into applause. Mr. Gaudet stood at the back of the room and
smiled at her.
Her heart stuttered, grew light. So,
this is theater. I’ve found my home.
However beautiful the music or popular the play and movie, The Phantom of the Opera is a dark story that asks us to consider how we nurture creativity in ourselves and what happens when we become mired down in jealousy. Does the Phantom redeem himself when he releases Christine to follow Raoul, her true love? Yes, but the themes of seduction and betrayal remain. Despite Christine being vulnerable throughout most of the play, she forgives and truly accepts the disfigured Phantom – who then releases her to return to Raoul. Does the Phantom pay for his violence, his murders? Only his cape and mask are found, a reminder that he may remain among us – or within us.
Image from Wikipedia
Word Count: 173 (FCA)
About Write...Edit...Publish... Every other month, writers are encouraged to post a flash fiction and read what others have written. You can go HERE to see more about the guidelines.
NOTE: For this October prompt, the deadline is October 18-20. It's not too late for you to write your response!A lovely prize awaits you -- a developmental read for your latest novel from Yolanda Renée. See DETAILS HERE. If writing flash fiction is new to you, Denise Covey has written a helpful 'how to' Read it HERE.
By the way, are you looking for a free read? If you sign up for my occasional newsletter (sent out about once a month), SNAPSHOT offers you a mash-up of very short fiction drawn from science fiction, historical fiction, memoir, and coming of age. You can click on the SIGNUP at the side of this page or HERE to sign up (and, yes, you can unsubscribe at any time).
AND HERE'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR WRITERS: You may want to submit to WEP's upcoming 2024 FLASH FICTION ANTHOLOGY (release approximately May, 2024). Submissions are due by December 31, 2023, with DETAILS HERE.
May you enjoy every bit of candy as we move closer to Halloween. I'm savoring the seasonal pumpkin spice latte and can highly recommend a slice of pre-Thanksgiving pumpkin pie!
I'm so glad Mr Gaudet encouraged Christine and she found her passion in theatre. Beautifully expressed.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Looking forward to reading what you've written.
DeleteTo discover your creative value, what a blessing! Lovely flash!
ReplyDeleteAs for the Phantom, he murdered, no redemption in my eyes. He may have won Christine if he hadn't been so full of rage, and yet Raul was a first love from childhood. She made the right choice.
I agree with you about the Phantom. Even if the music and passion are beautifully haunting, there is no rationale for murder. Thank you for visiting and commenting.
DeleteHi, I love your flash. It is excellent. I saw The Phantom of the Opera in Hamburg and Frankfurt, but I didn't see it as horror and my heart went out to the Phantom, and I saw Christine and Raoul as very shallow.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely rest of October, and take care.
Shalom shalom
Thank you for your fascinating comment. I haven't seen Phantom of the Opera but am still enchanted by the music. For me, reading the lyrics to the songs wasn't enough to excuse what the Phantom actually did (fictionally).
DeleteEven if Christine's family moves again, she'll have a way to be home. Love that!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteFinding home is such a wonderful feeling - particularly for those whose physical home is temporary or tenuous. Thank you for this uplifting flash.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for reading . . . I agree, having moved more times than I can remember!
DeleteHello Beth! That's a powerful message on creativity, expressed in such few words. I am so glad that Christine found her calling. Creativity can help battle loneliness.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully expressed! Thank you!
DeleteHi Beth - a lovely take on young life ... I do wish I'd had a Mr Gaudet as a kid ... cleverly told. I agree with Sonia ... so well expressed - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteAn engaging tale of woman who finds her destiny on the stage. Great job,Beth.
ReplyDeleteLove this, Beth. The are are so many ways to explore this story/musical, which is why it resonates with us so many years after it was written. I decided not to explore Christine's first love as it didn't suit my fairytale, LOL. Thank you for a memorable flash in so few words. The serenade continues ...
ReplyDeleteHi Beth.
ReplyDeleteI love this story! I am glad Christine found courage, found her voice and her passion for theatre. And most of all, I loved how Mr Gaudet encouraged her. How we all wish we had someone like Mr Gaudet back in our childhood, to inspire us, instil in us the confidence that we, too, are capable.
Interesting, engaging, and suspenseful piece of flash fiction. Loved this story.
ReplyDeleteLoved that she found her permanent home, which cannot be destroyed. Well crafted and a lovely take on the prompt. Thank you.
ReplyDelete