Best Plays in Manhattan

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

SERIOUS

PORGY--The absorbing details of love and life and murder* as practised by Negroes on the Charleston docks (TIME, Oct. 24).

COQUETTE--Helen Hays as a young Southern lady who plays too dangerously with the fire of caprice (TIME, Nov. 21).

STRANGE INTERLUDE--Eugene O'Neill's encyclopedic study of a neurotic woman played, through five hours, by the Theatre Guild (TIME, Feb. 13).

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

MELODRAMA

THE TRIAL OF MARY DUGAN--A chorus girl is charged with murder, her trial with excitement (TIME, Oct. 3).

ROPE--Shot-gun weddings, lynchings, seductions, religious fanatics and other exciting topics of Tennessee (TIME, March 5)

THE SILENT HOUSE--What a sadistic Chinaman does to people he doesn't like (TIME, Feb. 20).

INTERFERENCE--The black hand in a well-fitted kid glove (TIME, Oct. 31).

Another able melodrama--DRACULA.

FUNNY

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW--Shakespeare with as many modern improvements as a well-equipped bungalow (TIME, Nov. 7)

THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA--Bernard Shaw, revived, conducts an uncharitable clinic on the ailments of the medical profession (TIME, Dec. 5).

THE COMMAND TO LOVE--A diplomat who is also a man of affaires (TIME, Oct. 3).

THE ROYAL FAMILY--High class actors playing high class actors (TIME, Jan. 9).

PARIS BOUND--A very stylish marriage which just avoids getting into the divorce court (TIME, Jan. 9).

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

MUSICAL

For songs, shins, and scintillations see Funny Face, Show Boat, Good News, A Connecticut Yankee, Manhattan Mary, Keep Shufflin', Take the Air.

* The villain and murderer, one Crown, hitherto ably impersonated by Jack Carter, will henceforth be impersonated by Paul Robeson, famed Negro singer and actor. Several songs deleted from Crown's role will be put back for Mr. Robeson to sing.