NAKED MADMAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 278, 14 February 1928, Page 1

NAKED MADMAN

Posed as Statue Then Sang Grand Opera “CURTAIN-RAISER” IN ROME By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. Reed. 9.30 a.m. ROME, Monday. Achile Polidoro, a mad doorkeeper, provided, an astonishing curtain-raiser at the reopening of the famous Costanzi Opera House where Toti dal Monte was appearing. = : 4- -4 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 classical poses, he started singing Verdi’s La Donna e Mobile. At first the spectators were dumb with astonishment, then there were angry, cries of “remove him!” Stagehands rushed the stage recognising Polidoro, but the naked man was a powerful athlete, and resisting capture barricaded himself in a box where he continued singing until the police hound him and wrapped him In a blanket. Polidoro was recently dismissed from the Opera House for eccentric behaviour. He was conveyed to an asylum loudly protesting that his treatment was due to the jealousy of operatic stars. —A. and N.Z. Arrangements were completed by Messrs. J. C. Williamson, Ltd., for a grand opera company comprised principally of Italian artists, including Toti dal Monte, to open an Australian and New Zealand tour at Melbourne in March. As a result of Signor Mussolini ordering a command performance, the opening of the Australian season had to he delayed.