Show Porgy and Bess Prove Success in Soviet Porgy and Bess the American folk opera set In the heart of theold the theold theold old South and its all Negro cast are drawing crowds In Leningrad and Moscow Porgy and Bess Is the story of poor uneducated Negroes living in Catfish Row Charleston S. S C. C The tale of warmth and humor of sex and gambling is set to well known songs such as Ive Got Plenty of Nothing Nothings Nothing's Plenty for Me Many workers for civil rights are only moderately enthusiastic about U this s opera because Porgy and Bess Dess gives the Ute Negro a culture of his own These workers wish to do away with every mark of distinction between races They even doubt the wisdom of preserving preserving pre pre- serving Negro spirituals The huge success of Porgy and Bess abroad where millions believe the United States States' is cruel and bigoted in hi our treatment of the Negro should make such people think Porgy and end Bess received critical acclaim when the George Dubose Gershwin-Dubose Heyward ward offering was presented about 1935 but it had only a n successful run It was not until its revival revival re re- vival after the second world war that It was acclaimed as a great American creation The state department then sponsored a foreign tour The reception reception re re- of Porgy and Bess everywhere astonished everyone Now the Russian government has hItS put up to sponsor the show The crowds are so big Time magazine predicts the Soviets will probably make on the production The reason Porgy and Bess Is such Ii a hit is because it is a simple honest story written and composed with great creative skill Audiences attend because the show is good And when they do they also learn leam what critics say about the United States and the Negro cannot be the whole story It is true lynching and discrimination have marked race relations in this country But no one can see Porgy and Bess without realizing there is also another side to the picture Here Here Is an America prou proud of the contributions of ot one of its races eager to talk about them without delivering a message The Negro In this country has made great strides toward equal recognition these last 30 years in many places and fields Yet few abro abroad d are willing to believe even this this even when told by some distinguished American Negroes themselves Americans owe a e lot to Porgy and Bess It is carrying a message message message mes mes- sage which badly needs to be carried to toan an increasingly race conscious conscious conscious con con- world The fact it ft is not written just as a public relations expert would write our propaganda should not bother anyone Foreigners can appreciate a good honest work as well as Amen Ameri cans From From The Durango Colo Herald |