March 3 1888 STAGE FRIGHT MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. The Princess Theatre first opened in 1854 as the Astley Amphitheatre. Several years later it was renovated and re-opened as The Princess Theater. This impressive structure, which is listed on the Queensland Historic Register, hosted such notable shows as Gilbert and Sullivans Mikado and The Phantom of the Opera. In 1888, The Princess Theater staged Charles Gounods opera, faust. The great baritone Federici (aka Frederick Baker) was performing the role Dr. Faust. During the final act, Federici and the singer who was performing Mephistopheles were dramatically lowered through a trapdoor into the basement, representing their descent into hell. During the descent, the great Federici suffered a fatal heart attack and died. After the opera, the cast took to the stage for their final bow, and when the curtain calls were over, they assembled in the back of the stage. There they were informed of Federicis death during the performance. They stood in shock. Several members of the cast spoke up and swore they saw him during the final bows. Since that day, many patrons have witnessed to the spectral image of Federici in the theatre. It became so commonplace that for years the theatre management left a seat vacant in his honour. In the 1970s, while filming a docomentary at the theatre, the camera crew captured a translucent figure on stage. Perhaps Federici, who never got the opportunity to take his last bow in life, is doing so from the grave.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 03:22:49 +0000
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