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Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1927, Page 3

REAL STALE BATTLE. NAPLES. -March i. ■‘Aida" was being given at the Sail Carlo Opera the other night ami a large number ot' men dressed as the Egyptian troops of Ring Hadames ami the captured Ethiopian army of Kino Aim nasrus were assembled on f ile static ready for the curtain to rise on the first act with its triumphal procession. As the public were impatiently waiting for the opera to commence a considerable row was heard behind the curtain, a quite unusual amount ol strong language, and even stilled cries of agonv emanating from the stage. Apparently the victorious troops of Pharaoh took their part too much in earnest and started ridiculing their comrades representing the defeated Ethiopian army. The Ethiopians resented this offence to their honour, anti after words, the quarrel became general and violent, one of the “Egyptian soldiers” even wounding an “Ethiopian slave" slightly with a lance. Some of the horses which were to take part in the pageant were frightened by the noise and one of them kicked an “Egyptian soldier.” thus avenging the “Ethiopian slave.” The police were called to separate the combatants and finally the opera commenced after some delay,