New Revue in Manhattan

Chauve-Souris of 1943 (produced by Leon Greanin) stirred up memories rather than reactions. It evoked the gay Chauve-Souris revues of the '20s, when the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers seemed the most rollicking of tunes and Katinka the most "Rahsshan" of maidens, and the late Master of Ceremonies Nikita Balieff talked unbelievably dreadful English with unforgettably droll results. Katinka and the Wooden Soldiers are still on hand, but Balieff unhappily is not.

Mixing old & new material, mingling old & new Russia, Chauve-Souris of 1943 moseys along agreeably, but never gets anywhere. It lacks everything exciting: the tune that can make a show, the performer that can stop one, the pace that can keep one spinning, the verve that can make one soar. As master of ceremonies, Producer Greanin has almost as heavy an accent as Balieff had, but he has not nearly so .light a touch.

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