Best Plays in Manhattan

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

SERIOUS

Porgy--Charleston Negroes seen through a glass darkly but not faintly (TIME, Oct. 24).

COQUETTE--Light love affairs, for Helen Hayes, grow serious and presently become tragic (TIME, Nov. 21).

STRANGE INTERLUDE--Eugene O'Neill's history, in nine acts and five hours, of a lady for whom life has arranged defeat (TIME, Feb. 13).

Other well regarded serious plays: ESCAPE, CIVIC REPERTORY PRODUCTIONS, MARCO MILLIONS, MAYA.

MELODRAMA

THE SILENT HOUSE--A thoroughly heathen Chinee up to his mysterious and blood-chilling tricks (TIME, Feb. 20).

THE TRIAL OF MARY DUGAN--A chorine commits murder and makes a killing (TIME, Oct. 3).

INTERFERENCE--In which an epigrammarian with good manners and complicated intentions, administers an overdose of prussic acid (TIME, Oct. 3).

Another able melodrama--DRACULA.

FUNNY

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW--Shakespeare without his goatee, in clean-cut modern clothing, and as funny as possible (TIME, Nov. 7).

THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA--Bernard Shaw vivisects a doctor with bladed witticisms (TIME, Dec. 5).

THE COMMAND TO LOVE--A diplomat whose diploma was a bright red valentine (TIME, Oct. 3).

THE ROYAL FAMILY--Stage aristocrats imitated by those who scarcely need to pretend (TIME, Jan. 9).

BURLESQUE--A funny comedian is a serious matter to his charming wife (TIME, Sept. 12).

PARIS BOUND--A luxurious marriage slips successfully through the not-hole in the seventh commandment.

Other laughing matters--THE QUEEN'S HUSBAND, THE SHANNONS OF BROADWAY.

MUSICAL

There are hops, quips, and jumpy tunes in: Funny Face, Show Boat, Good News, A Connecticut Yankee, Manhattan Mary.