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'.