The Breaker of Hearts (ENO Mini-Opera)

The Breaker of Hearts

The Chorus of Sleepers appear, shuffling, shambling, (un)dressed for sleep – sleepwalking. They could be all ages, all races, but they move as one, united in sleep. There is a low hum. When they sing, they are usually divided into either boys and girls, or men and women, depending on their ages.

GIRLS	Here he comes.
BOYS		Here he comes.
GIRLS	Here he comes.
BOYS		Hear his tread on the stair.
GIRLS	He comes.
BOYS		Smell his scent in the air.
GIRLS	He comes.
BOYS		Feel the twinge of despair.
GIRL	He comes.
BOYS		Know he is near.
GIRLS	Softly-slinky and grimly-gory.
BOYS		Heart-Breaker prowls in the witching hour looking out for joy to devour, never letting new hopes flower and turning every sweet dream sour.
GIRLS	Touting lies and the barely true he swigs a cup of witches' brew, takes a face you thought you knew and turns it into something new.
CHORUS	He comes – the Lurker of Dreams, the Breaker of Hearts. Closer and closer, rising up from Hell; The actor of the Id, he plays many parts and now you must fall for his spell.
GIRLS	He comes.
BOYS		He comes.
	Already, this Breaker of Hearts can be seen approaching
CHORUS	He comes. He'll bring your fear to you, it's a gift to you of his; it won't be anything new you know already what it is.
GIRLS	Hear him closer.
BOYS		He comes.
GIRLS	Getting closer.
BOYS		He comes.
GIRLS	Drawing closer.
BOYS		He comes.
CHORUS	Here he comes. He comes to play with your greatest fear; to hurl you from heights or drown you in ice, to scorch you, scald you, burn you. He'll chase you with dogs and with wolves, he'll chase you down flights, you'll get into fights; you'll murder, rape and maim. Here he comes. He'll show you the deaths of those you hold dear, make it your fault, make you feel the blame; it'll scar you, scare you, bleed you. He'll send his creatures to devour you, and takes a care to send your biggest scare - his snakes, his crows or his bugs. Here he comes.
GIRLS	He comes from the depths of deepest Hell.
BOYS			Nearer.
GIRLS	Even the angels fear his tread.
BOYS			And nearer.

CHORUS	He comes with: Legal writs and rich men's Wills, money bags and heart burn pills.
DREAMER 1	In my dream, my son is on trial for treason and starting a fire. I swear he's an innocent boy; and even the judge says I'm a liar.
	The shadowy Breaker of Hearts resembles a distant judge
CHORUS	He'll take your heart and he'll tear it.
DREAMER 1	I fall on my knees to beg for his life, 'He has a child just a few days old, please, won't you show him some mercy?' but the judge's smile is bloody and bold.
CHORUS	He'll take your fears and he'll make them real.
GIRLS	He comes.
BOYS		He comes.

CHORUS	He comes with: A dozen corpses, a deathly moan; a childhood terror, now re-grown.
DREAMER 2	In my dream I'm back in the camp, condemned once more to a lifetime of pain, back where the Jew should fear to be. And the Commandant is there again.
	The Breaker of Hearts appears to assume a military aspect
CHORUS	He'll take your memories and he won't spare you.
DREAMER 2	Every night he comes to take me back, back to Dachau where my people burned. Every day I must endure my life To which my people can never return.
CHORUS	There is no escape from the dread of sleep.
GIRLS	He comes.
BOYS		He comes.

CHORUS	He comes with: a diagnosis ready-made; his only hope is to get paid.
DREAMER 3	The doctor could have cured my sister. Now I see him every night, leaning over me in my dreams - I can't shake him from my sight.
	The Heart-Breaker now looks faintly medical
CHORUS	He'll take your trust and he'll snap it.
DREAMER 3	The operation was easy but not that cheap and we had no way to pay. Now she's cold and in the ground, and it's too late even to pray.
CHORUS	The Heart-Breaker grinds the bones of hope.

GIRLS	He comes.
BOYS		He comes.

CHORUS	He comes with: a cross in his hand, and a rosary, pouring on guilt and misery.
DREAMER 4	Sins and sinner you find here, clutching feebly at a cross. Twenty Hail Marys twice a day, else he says that my soul is lost.
	The Heart-Breaker now bears a striking resemblance to a priest, and looms larger than ever before
CHORUS	He sees your sins, he knows your fears.
DREAMER 4	I've tried to do as I've been taught, but I've fallen into a snare. Well you know, oh my God, women's beauty is not fair.
CHORUS	He'll burn your guilt right into your soul.

GIRLS	He comes.
BOYS		He comes.
GIRLS/BOYS	Touting lies and the barely true he swigs a cup of witches' brew, takes a face you thought you knew and turns it into something new.	Heart-Breaker prowls in the witching hour looking out for joy to devour, never letting new hopes flower and turning every sweet dream sour.
CHORUS	He's come!
	Finally, the Breaker of Hearts comes into focus. The Chorus, in their sleep, are probably terrified of him, though strangely immobile.
HEART-BREAKER	Sleep no more!
	They all scream, briefly, as if awaking from a nightmare.