The impressive Second Empire-style Princess Theatre, with its marble foyer and staircase, opened in 1886. Now listed on the Queensland Historic Register, the landmark building housed many great productions, beginning with Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado.
Federici Death at the Princess Theatre
Perhaps the most amazing happening at the Princess Theatre occurred during the evening of March 3, 1888. Italian-born opera singer Federici, also known as Frederick Baker (1851-1888), toured extensively before arriving to perform in Australia where he appeared in July 1887 at the Princess Theatre as Florian in Princess Ida.
On the night in question, the gifted, popular baritone performed the role of Mephistopheles in Charles Gounod’s Faust. During the finale, as Federici dramatically sank through a trapdoor into the fires of hell, the spellbound audience watched in amazement. Conductor Alfred Cellier observed a tremor in Federici before he descended into the basement from the stage, and shortly after singing the last note, Federici suffered a fatal heart attack.
Cast members listened in disbelief to the report of the singer’s death, as many swore they saw him take the final bows with them. Co-star Nellie Stewart who performed Marguerite in Faust, was devastated and inconsolable. According to reporter Justin Murphy (Australian Television Corp.), who investigated the story, “the funeral, in Melbourne's vast General Cemetery, was, in a sense, possessed. The chaplain fainted as the coffin was lowered into the grave and the service was completed by one of the pallbearers.”
Ghostly Sightings
Federici loved his profession, and enjoyed performing so much that he continues to arrive for work though his death occurred more than a century ago. Visitors to the Princess Theatre, unaware of his story, report seeing his ghostly figure. Ghost tour operator Drew Sinton believes that people return to their idea of heaven – the place they loved during their lifetimes.
In the 1970s, the Australian production company Kennedy Miller filmed a dramatized documentary of Federici’s performance-death at the theatre. A photograph of the stage showed a translucent, ashen-faced observer, which had not been seen by participants on the day of filming.
Award-winning singer Rob Guest, who played at the Princess Theatre over many months in Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables, believes in Federici’s appearances. While Guest waited backstage for his cue, an usher thought she saw him at the back of the dress circle. When she walked forward to speak to him, she was distracted, then turned and realized that he had disappeared. Guest stated that he had not been in the dress circle, and that he believed Federici had “taken on the persona of the lead character in the show”.
Trina Dimovska, a Princess Theatre cleaner, seriously doubted, and laughed at, all reference to the ghostly appearances until one evening when she had a personal encounter. There was no one else in the theatre when she felt something touch her hair and shoulders. She stood terrified and frozen during that moment, and now believes in the ghost.
Theatre Owners Welcome the Spectre
David and Elaine Marriner, owners of the Princess Theatre, refused permission to have priests or mediums pray Federici away, as he is accepted by everyone. Elaine experienced a shaft of light that suddenly appeared on the darkened stage, and surmised that it was Federici making his presence known. For years, one seat remained unoccupied on opening night for Federici’s use, but that tradition ended for practical reasons.
As Elaine Marriner stated during her interview with Murphy, during rehearsals of a new play someone on stage will see him, and they consider his appearance a good omen. "I think there's so many things happen within this theatre, so many stories, we just pass it off with, "Oh, it's just...it's Federici."
Sources
Justin Murphy, The Theatre Ghost, Australian Broadcasting Corp., 2004, accessed Sept. 18, 2011
Australian Ghost Hunters and Paranormal Investigators accessed Sept. 18, 2011
Kathleen Airdrie - Kathleen has thirty years' freelance writing experience covering history, biographical profiles, environmental and social issues
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