The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1940-05-18
WE'RE TIRED BUT WHAT
ARE We GOING TO DO
IS AUTHORS CHALLENGE
By HARRIET ROBINSON

With very good lighting effects
and little scenery and costuming,
Wilberforce university's dramatic
players and singers brilliantly pre-
scented Langston Hughes poetic
drama. Don't You Want TO BE
Free" May 10 and IL at Bethel
AME church.
"Harlems. tired We're all tired"
were the words that kept ringing
In the ears OF the small apprecis-
tive audience who Witnessed and
the experiences Of the American
Negro from slavery 10 the present
day.
The subtle but striking review
Of the Negroes problems presented
in panoramic style. undoubtedly
and wisely placed the basis for
such dilemmas AT the door of the
economic structure. The author
does not attempt 10 solve but 10
suggest that the solution can only
ba gained when and 10 what extent
Negroes unite with the other
groups who must cope with similar
situations.
Acting Good
Edith Davis representing Negro
motherhood, gave heart-warminV
plea TO her son IN which she said
that because people like herself
had struggled through sea Of
humiliation and blood. his genera
ton and their posterity must rise
above their unfortunate plight. Her
well modulated voice bespoke hard
trials and tribulations and her
sparkling bright eyes courage.
tenacity and understanding.
A fine performance was also civ
on by John Leahr as the Young
man Mildred Day. the girl in red
with an expressive soprano voice:
James q. Buford. the "Simon Le-
gree overseer and Jean Walden.
the mulatio girl
Prlma Donna Appears
However. the Young woman who
has become endeared 10 Detroit
music lovers will NOT no remember
ed FOR her hit in the play as "The
woman" but as the symphony in.
brown whose beautiful soprano
voice was heard, preceding the
drama. as she stood gracefully
poised upon the platform singing
"The star" and THE Lord Is My
lieht. Coreania Hayman is her
name.
A senior In college ~ liberal
arts. with major in English ard
minor in German Miss Hayman IS
studying voice under an accom-
plished instructor who is a German
refugee.
The guest soloist Is the daneh-
ter Of the Rev o. ]. Hayman. pas
tor OF ST. Paul AME church. Nor
folk. Va and the niece Of Mrs. An
ma wodtham Of Alger avenue. De
froit. A very sweet and charming
person to know Miss Hayman in
tends continuing her musical
training after finishing wilberforce
In June. Coreania began her music
career in Baltimore. Md. In a NJ
lie church choir as did Dorothy
Maynor and her good friend. Eta
Moten. She has since sung AT New
York's Appolo theatre. with the
Dayton Symphony orchestra and
in numerous metropolitan centers
Others members OF the WILDER
force PLAYERS who were good I'm
supporting roles were. Russell
Adrine. Norman Kerr. Jr., John
Dagner. Jean Walden, Garvis
Sparks. ". Newell Guy. Robert
Tanner. Earle Galloway Sinclair
Simmons Wills Humphrey Ruth
McGhee. oliver Clark. Albert Nc
kee. Thelma Williams and Doris
Brown.
Musical background was furnish
ed by the famous WHEREFORE sing
ers. who are under the direction
Of Mrs. y Pyrtle and who com
prise Miss Hsyman. Bernice Pang-
burn. George Rainey. Ralph Jones
and Henderson Davis Jefferson
Henderson Is accompanist and ar
ranger. The entire production was
under the personal direction ~
Mack NJ. Greene OF the dramatics
department
Hughes Il Present
The play was Witnessed by Hal
lie Brown. famed elocufionist and
former instructor at wilberforre
and the author, I.ansston Hughes
While motoring 10 the home NJ
Mrs. Beulah T. Whithy where a
reception was being given in his
honor Saturday evening. Hughes
remarked that he was quite pleased
with the work OF the Ohio school
group and but for the announcement
situation Of the stage which SLOW.
I'd the tempo in places the perfor.
name was ufthnuf a a.,