As Bermuda's `leading lady' of the theatre is poised in the wings, ready for her star appearance in `Driving Miss Daisy', next month, she will be coming, as it were, full circle. It was the old Bermudiana Hotel that first brought the young and beautiful American actress Elsbeth Gibson to take leading roles in their annual theatre seasons. Now, she has been invited to join the Jabulani Repertory Company at the Hamilton Princess Hotel.

Their winter season opens on Thursday, November 14, initially with a three-night run of `Driving Miss Daisy', with Ms Gibson and Danjou Anderson, supported by Dal Tucker as the son. The original, off-Broadway play became an Academy award-winning film which starred Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman.

"It's so wonderful to have Elsbeth acting with us,'' says producer Dusty Hind. "I have known her for over 35 years and have always been a great admirer of her work, so I feel it's a great honour for us.'' Also on the winter bill is what Mr. Hind describes as "a horror mystery which should scare the pants off everyone''. This is `I'll Be Back Before Midnight'' and, he adds, "is rather more substantial -- and certainly more frightening -- than the standard `who dunnit' type of entertainment.'' Completing the trio of this winter's offerings is one of theatre's best loved, romantic, comic plays -- `Private Lives' by the incomparable Noel Coward. This production, which is slated for opening in January, will star Richard Fell and Helen Coffey.

"During the summer, we are catering mainly to people who are on vacation, so we tend to stick to comedies and farces as these are very popular with general audiences,'' says Mr. Hind. "In the winter we can be a little bit entrepreneurial and try some stuff that we don't normally do here. I think we have achieved a good mix for this season: `Driving Miss Daisy' is very funny but also has an underlying social comment on class and race. `I'll Be Back Before Midnight' is quite meaty in content and effect, and then, of course, we have an absolute classic with `Private Lives', a play that's just as popular today as it was when Coward wrote and starred in it with Gertrude Lawrence -- 70 years ago.'' Mr. Hind reveals that the Gazebo Room's stage has been expanded and extended in time for the new season. "In fact, under Richard Klesnik's marvellously capable hands, the entire stage has been upgraded and we can now have sets that go right up to the ceiling!'' `Driving Miss Daisy' will be performed at the Hamilton Princess on November 13,14 and 15, and again on November 20, 21 and 22.

IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT -- Actor Danjou Anderson will have a very special passenger when Bermuda's grande dame of theatre, Elsbeth Gibson takes on the title role in the forthcoming Jabulani Repertory Company's production of `Driving Miss Daisy'.