Ethiopian Princess In All-Negro Musical

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30586, 31 October 1964, Page 2

Ethiopian Princess In All-Negro Musical

When Princess Stewart, of the all-Negro musical, “Black Nativity,” regained 20 per cent vision in one eye two years ago she could not get home to the United States quickly enough for her first hazy glimpse of her six children. “I just stood on the floor and wept when I saw them,” she said in Christchurch yesterday.

Blind for 27 years at the time, she was singing on a Liverpool stage when she was afflicted with an unbearable headache. She was taken to hospital immediately for an operation to relieve pressure in the left eye. Twentyfour hours later she began to see shadows with her right eye.

“I regarded it as a miracle,” she said. “Within two days I had 20 per cent vision in that eye.” Audiences are not able to detect that the auburn-haired princess is near sightless. Head erect and dignified, she walks confidently to her place on the stage to forget everything but her singing in a rich contralto voice. “I have a condition in my left eye which bothers me a bit,” she said. “I am occasionally nervous on stage lest I get dizzy and faint. There are times when I feel this tension hampers my work.” Princess Stewart is the daughter of an Ethiopian prince who visited the United States to give a lecture tour on African culture, married and remained there. “I was born in Chicago and named Theodocia, but I took my

mother’s maiden name of Stewart as a stage name,” she said. “In private life I’m Mrs Asbury.” Related to Emperor Brought up in the Holiness Church in Chicago, the young 'princess, who is distantly related to Emperor Haile Selas'sie of Ethiopia, began singing solos as a small child. “I never sang in the choir, always solos,” she added. “1 was sent to the American ■ Conservatory of Music in Chicago and later to the School for the Blind in Jacksonville, Illinois, to train as a concert singer.” Though concert work satisfied her. Princess Stewart always had a yen for the ■ theatre and was delighted to be given an important part in the all-Negro show. “I love this show—partly because it has a religious 'theme and partly because of [the singing,” she added. Of her six children at least three are musical. Her eldest daughter, now 20, is a concert violinist who sings and plays the piano as well. “I’ve just had a letter from my 14-year-old daughter who tells me she has been put in the school choir and my little boy (he’s 10 and our only son) has a glorious voice,” she said. Princess Stewart sings only Gospel songs now, in churches, on radio and tele- ! vision.

The show, which opens at the Majestic Theatre tonight, has been running for more than three years and the princess does not expect to get home for another 12 months.