The Best Plays

These are the plays which, in the light of metropolitan criticism, stem most important:

Drama

OUTWARD BOUND--An unusual cast and production showing that the hereafter has other uses than the base ones of spiritualism.

RAIN--Enormously satisfying, not only because of the acting, but because it confirms everyone's suspicions that a minister is quite human after all.

SUN-UP--A sharp cross-section of the Carolina mountains, trying to digest the late War.

TARNISH--Convincing reversal of the original concept that Eve is to blame.

THE OUTSIDER--A glowing perform-ance by Katherine Cornell, making medicine go down easily.

SAINT JOAN--The appealing figure of Joan of Arc catches Shaw off his guard and turns him serious.

Comedy

THE SHOW-OFF--A comedy so finely true to life that it lies close to tragedy, dealing with a man who has a genius for being egotistical and nothing else.

BEGGAR ON HORSEBACK--A cutting satire in which Art for once triumphs over Commercialism, though it's mostly a dream.

THE SWAN--A little backstairs gossip deftly applied to royalty without rubbing off the gloss.

THE NERVOUS WRECK--A farce showing the ever-reliable effect of the West on a man's backbone.

CYRANO DE BERGERAC--Walter Hampden gallantly turning the nose of Mansfield into the mantle of Elijah.

EXPRESSING WILLIE--Reviewed in this issue.

THE POTTERS--Illustrates ingratiatingly the two great subjects in America--ourselves and oil.

THE GOOSE HANGS HIGH--The younger generation tolerantly restored to citizenship.

FATA MORGANA--One naughty night done to a turn.

HELL-BENT FER HEAVEN--A naturalistic play in which religion is made to sing small in the Kentucky mountains.

Musical

Those who feel Summer coming on will find satisfaction in Stepping Stones, Runnin' Wild, Music Box Revue, Poppy, Kid Boots, Mary Jane McKane, Ziegfeld Follies, Chariot's Revue, Swept Little Devil, Vogues.