Theater: New Play in Manhattan, Jan. 11, 1943

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The Doughgirls (by Joseph Fields; produced by Max Gordon) tosses three man-eating women (Virginia Field, Doris Nolan, Arleen Whelan) into the wartime bedlam of Washington. The three migratory workers soon show Washington what bedlam really can be. Inside one hotel suite they virtually solve the capital's housing problem. Inside a few weeks they virtually supersede the War Manpower Commission. Broad, breezy, gagged to the gullet by Playwright Fields, The Doughgirls is nice, unfastidious fun.

In & out of Suite 354, under the agile direction of George S. Kaufman, troop susceptible generals, admirals and rubber czars, footsore strangers in search of a bed, snooty wives in search of their husbands, harassed hotel managers in quest of a settlement, marines, FBI men, portly women judges and a bayoneted lady sniper from the Soviet Embassy. Every time one of the hostesses heads for the altar, yet another face appears with bad news. But the three girls snag their prey at last, and Washington subsides into routine pandemonium.