UNEXPECTED INCIDENT

Northern Advocate, 14 February 1928, Page 5

UNEXPECTED INCIDENT

MAD DOORKEEPER’S ACT

POSES IN THE NUDE.

ASTONISHING CURTAIN-RAISER.

(United Press Assn.—Copyright.); (Received 9.30 a.m.) ROME, February 13.

Achilles Polidoro, a mad doorkeeper, provided an, astonishing curtain-raiser at the re-opening of the famous Costanzi Opera House, where Bel Monte was appearing. A private audience had assembled and the safety curtain was majestically rising, when a man of heroic proportions was seen as bare as a Greek statue.

After striking a series of poses, recalling classical statues, he started singing Verdi’s “La Douna Mobile.” At first the spectators wore dumb with astonishment; then were heard angry cries of “Remove him.” Stage hands rushed to the stage recognising Polidoro, but the naked man, a powerful athlete, resisted capture and barricaded himself in a box where he continued singing 'until the police bound and wrapped him in a blanket. Polidoro, who was recently dismissed for eccentric behaviour, was conveyed to an asylum, loudly protesting at the treatment which, he said, was due to the jealousy of operatic stars. —A. and N.Z.