Best Plays in Manhattan

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

SERIOUS

PORGY—All the grim and gaudy details of black tragedy, superbly directed, brilliantly played by a colored cast (TIME, Oct. 24).

COQUETTE—Helen Hayes as a Southern girl whose father murders the man she really loves (TIME, Nov. 21).

STRANGE INTERLUDE—Eugene O'Neill's nine act play about a lady whose three lovers cannot make her happy (TIME, Feb. 13).

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

MELODRAMA

THE TRIAL OF MARY DUGAN—A chorus girl crosses her knees in a court (TIME, Oct. 3).

INTERFERENCE—Aristocrats making epigrams and committing murder (TIME, Oct. SOTHE SILENT HOUSE—An especially nasty Chinaman, accomplishing bloodthirsty crimes (TIME, Feb. 20).

Other able melodramas: DRACULA, THE FURIES.

FUNNY

THE COMMAND TO LOVE—The love light glisters in a diplomat's eyes as he directs a slip of state (TIME, Oct. 3).

THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA—Bernard Shaw's oldtime bitterness against the cheery little man with the black satchel (TIME, Dec. 5).

THE ROYAL FAMILY—How classy actors act when no one is supposed to be looking (TIME, Jan. 9).

PARIS BOUND—The bicycle built for two almost breaks down on easy street (TIME, Jan. 9).

THE BACHELOR FATHER—A very sweet play about bastards who are not dirty (TIME, March 12).

Other funny plays: THE SHANNONS OF BROADWAY, THE QUEEN'S HUSBAND.

MUSICAL

Bright moments and light minds: Funny Face, Show Boat, Good News, A Connecticut Yankee, Manhattan Mary, Take the Air, Keep Shufflin'.