The Best Plays

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

Drama

CASANOVA--Lowell Sherman as the greatest of the philanderers, against a background of violently expensive costumes and decorations. Also prominent: Katharine Cornell; a Fokine ballet.

CHILDREN OF THE MOON--Minor players scaling major eminences in a vigorous exposition of inherited insanity and the futility of over-possessive mother love.

RAIN--A jade is called a jade together with other interestingly unprintable synonyms. Jeanne Eagels is the recipient of the epithets; her surroundings are the South Seas.

SEVENTH HEAVEN--Helen Menken creating for herself a lasting name as the gutter-girl of Paris who knew the infinite value of faith.

SUN UP--To the individual who knows Carolina only as described in the tin-pan " mammy" songs, this primitive study of mountain people will be a beneficial surprise.

TARNISH--Proving that men are a bad lot. Brilliantly played and rather depressingly convincing.

Comedy

AREN'T WE ALL?--The glitter of clever lines in the setting of the perfect English drawing-room. -- Cyril Maude.

THE CHANGELINGS -- Wise and humorous discussion of certain! aspects of polite American life. Henry Miller, Blanche Bates, Ruth Chatterton help enormously.

IN LOVE WITH LOVE--Primarily a show window in which Miss Lynn Fontanne can exhibit her varied and effective histrionic wares.

MARY, MART, QUITE CONTRARY-- Mrs. Fiske and David Belasco cooperating pleasantly in high comedy by St. John Ervine.

THE NERVOUS WRECK--Reviewed in this issue.

TWEEDLES--Whimsical reflections on the futility of family trees. By Booth Tarkington, out of Seventeen.

WINDOWS -- Reviewed in this issue.

Musical Shows

For those who crave amusement set to music the following are especially recommended: Poppy, Music Box Revue, Greenwich Village Follies, Battling Butler, Wildflower, Scandals.