Best Plays in Manhattan

These are the plays which, in the light of metropolitan criticism, seem most important.

SERIOUS

STRANGE INTERLUDE--The Theatre Guild explores the truthful wanderings of Eugene O'Neill's nine-act labyrinth (TIME, Feb. 13).

COQUETTE--Helen Hayes eventfully tearful in a tragedy of misplaced flirtation (TIME, Nov. 21).

PORGY--Again, the Theatre Guild. Low life Negroes chatteringly awake along the Charleston docks (TIME, Oct. 24).

Other well regarded serious plays are: ESCAPE, CAPONSACCHI; Civic Repertory Theatre Productions; BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM.

MELODRAMA

INTERFERENCE--An immensely affable group of Londoners go into the little matter of a slut who swallows prussic acid (TIME, Oct. 31).

THE TRIAL OF MARY DUGAN--A blooming blonde from the Follies wriggles off the hook of murder in J;he first degree (TIME, Oct. 3).

THE RACKET--Chicago on a particularly restless evening when a gunman shoots a cop (TiME, Dec. 12).

THE SILENT HOUSE--Reviewed in this issue.

Another able melodrama: DRACULA.

FUNNY

THE ROYAL FAMILY--A great family of actors and actresses relaxing into home-life (TIME, Jan. 9).

BURLESQUE--Behind the putty nose of a burlesque comedian echoes an empty head (TIME, Sept. 12).

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW--Shakespeare mortalized in the manner of motion picture farce (TiME, Nov. 7).

THE COMMAND TO LOVE--In which foreign diplomats disparage the Seventh Commandment on the grounds of duty (TIME, Oct. 3)...

THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA--George Bernard Shaw amuses himself destroying doctors. Again, the Theatre Guild (TIME, Dec. 5).

Other laughing matters: THE SHANNONS OF BROADWAY, THE QUEEN'S HUSBAND, PARIS BOUND, THE BABY CYCLONE.

MUSICAL

For ridicule and rhythm: A Connecticut Yankee, Funny Face, Hit the Deck, Manhattan Mary, Show Boat, Good News.