Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-11-21
Cass Revue
Entertaining
BY CHARLES GENTRY

ny AshfAx&A<E<o 0EEN A1I
his is one November when
- Cass Theater should turn on
4 jfA air conditioning. because the
Zeal fever pitch Of Katherine
\ Hufhams dance revue which
opened last night. raised not only
the roof. but also everybodys
temperature.
II Is really exciting in every
sense Of the word. 1t has pace,
passion and pulsating rhythm.
This Tropical Revue" Is not
just a dance recital. but an eve
ning's entertainment. filled with
such varied episodes that you are
completely absorbed from start to
finish.
Miss Durham only appears In a
few of the sequences. but she has
designed and cleverly supervised
the execution of all OF them.
In some of them, like the Bra
lillian fisherman.s song. she gives
voice to her Carmen Miranda
movements and guitar playing
Bobby Capo sings several num-
bers such as the enticing Para
Que tn Yeas" which precedes the
first act finale of Havana Prom
enade."
ALL TYPES OF DANCE
There's Moorish bolero,
rhumba which is two parts Cuban
tn one part Harlem. plantation
dances in the old style. and
dance satire of the speak-easy era.
In fact, there's just about every
thing you can imagine from VOC
doc to boogie in the course Of the
evenings events and you'll find
yourself literally carried away by
the color. movement and haunting
rhythms which sweep through the
whole program.
Most striking offering Of the
evening Is the controversial rites
de Passage" which we think is
one Of the most startling dance
presentations we've ever seen. II
~ all the primitive beauty OF
ain sculpture.
Divided in two parts. the first
represents young adoleScent
savage's coming Of manhood. the
second the tribal rites of mating.
JUNGLE SETTING
Set against a Rousseau like
Jungle backdrop. the characters
move with tremendous power. as
though suddenly unleashed from
some invisible confinement.
The young boy writhes as
though torTnented by the head
warrior and other males, then
springs into action like an arrow
from a taut bow.
The groups in the second half
start slowly and work op 10
crescendo of frenzied hysteria
which will make you hair do its
own upsweep.
There is also n great deal Of
hunor. in such sly burlesque as
YOU find in Flaming Youth 1927.
In which Miss Durham kids the
flask toting. fringe skirted fash
ions OF the prohibition DAYS.
a wholesome contrast comes in
the plantation dances 10 the music
OF authentic Negro folk songs
OF Miss Dunham's solo num-
hers. we liked the Bahamas" and
the waterfront scene which she
dances with Roger Ohacdien1. !
who IL one OF the best members
OF her supporting company.
Her Florida avenue shirmv. I
also done with Roger Ofrardieno. /
Is a study in sinuous motion. al I
though we thought it a little long. 4
RAPID CHANGES
But there really isn't = duh
moment in the whole show and
everything moves as quickly as
Miss Dunham's amazing changes
OF costume at the final curtain.
She makes something like eight
Complete switches OF wardrobe IN
Minutes.
Wand speaking Of wardrobe. the
costumes are rs bizarre and won
derful as the dancers they clothe. /
Exotic fishermen's getups, flash
Ing rhunlha skirts and super zoot
suits. all have been marvellous
contrived by John Pyatt. while
the sets are as unique as they are
simple.
Miss Durham also has n fine
quartet Of singers, who provide I
vocal background for several Of
tho numbers and also take over
the spotlight to sing a clever ar
rangement Of Dark Town Strut
tiers Ball"
Martin Gabowitz. not only di. /
reefs the orchestra. but takes
several turns at the keyboard. for
piano accompaniment of sone of