Atlanta Daily World

Large Audience Witnesses "Calypso Carousel" At MBC

ATLANTA, Ga. - (SNS) - A colorful and rhythmic revue, "Calypso Carousel" was staged at the Morris Brown College Gymnasium Friday evening, Nov. 19 before a large and appreciative audience. Featuring Massie Patterson's Carib Singers attractively dressed in colorful and exotic costumes, this troupe of Calypso performers made the stage a scene of colorful movement and pantomime much to the delight of the audience.

The material for this show is rich enough in authentic folklore, dancing true to the joyousness of the people, songs that tell of the tragedies, sorrows and humorous, sly foolery of various Caribbean localities, and enacted with such spontaneity and vividness as to interest the public both in this country and Europe.

Working without scenery, the troupe established the mood of each piece easily enough with throbbing drums and sinuous movements. "Stone Cold Dead in the Market," a calypso song familiar to this part of the world thru recordings figured in the opening scene as did the "Pepper Sauce Woman," a tense dance accompanied by drums.

Songs from Trinidad, Barbadoes, Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, Martinique and other islands figured largely in the program. Perhaps the most exciting production number of the evening was "Voodoo Ritual." This number featured an invocation by Massie Patterson, a chant to agitated drumming by Joe Commodore, a writhing dance of possessions by Ursula Dudley led up to the high spot of the ritual. Eyrrick Darby brilliantly painted, leaped into the semicircle as the drums rose to an insistent crescendo, and drew a spontaneous thunder of applause from the audience with his wild dance.

"Bassey Down," a children's dance from Trinidad, concluded the program in a riot of sound and colorful movement which brought each member of the company out for a bow.

This group has appeared in recital recently at Columbia University, New York University, Bennett College, Southern University, Howard University, Carnegie Hall and many other leading concert halls over the country. The appearance at Morris Brown College terminated the tour in this section.