TRAGEDIENNE'S ILLNESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18689, 21 April 1924, Page 7

TRAGEDIENNE'S ILLNESS.

MADAME ELEONORA DUSE. A. end N.Z. NEW YORK, April 18. Madame Eleonora Dusc, the famous Italian tragedienne, who was touring the United States, is reported to be critically ill. For a fortnight she has been confined to her hotel in Pittsburg. The nature of her illness has not been disclosed.

Mdme. Eleonora Duse is 65 years of age. She was born in Venice in October, 1859. She first appeared on the stage in 1863 as the child Cosetta in "Les Miserables." In 1882, while playing at the Lido Theatre, Venice, she attracted the attention of Cesare Rossi, who engaged her to play lead with his company. She made a great success at Florence in July, 1882, in "Frou Frou," one of Sarah Bcrnhardt's famous parts. Then came a succession of other successes. Duse toured the world, and by the time she first appeared in London in May, 1893, had at* tained to an enviable position in her profession. She has made her chief successes in the chief parts in "La Tosca," "Fedora," "La Dame aux Camelias," "C'avalleria Rusticana," "A Doll's House," "Antony and Cleopatra." She retired from the stage in 1906, but after an absence of 15 years made her reappearance at the Balbo Theatre, Turin, in May, 1921, in "The Lady from the Sea."