The Theater, Aug. 14, 1944

Catherine Was Great (by Mae West; produced by Michael Todd) is an opulent and incredible fancy-undress affair in which the queen of all the sirens essays the Empress of All the Russias. "Catherine," said Mae West in a first-night curtain speech, "had 300 lovers. I did the best I could in two hours." For a while her best was reasonably good: she seemed to make Lords of the Bedchamber of the whole Russian court and boudwarriors of half the Russian army. As she followed her hips about the stage in a solemn slink, as she languidly drew shameless innuendos...

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