Best Plays in Manhattan

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

SERIOUS

MARCO MILLIONS--An elaborate fantasy in which Eugene O'Neill plays Marco Polo for an all-time sucker (TIME, Jan. 16).

STRANGE INTERLUDE--Eugene O'Neill's nine-act investigation of the sad life and loves of a lonely lady; variously described as foolish, magnificent or pretentious, it is undoubtedly the most important theatrical production of the season (TIME, Feb. 13).

TWELVE THOUSAND--The G a r r i c k Players--especially Basil Sydney and Mary Ellis--in a soft, surefooted and satiric comment on an intimate episode in 18th century history (TIME, March 26).

Other well-regarded serious plays: COQUETTE, Civic REPERTORY PRODUCTIONS.

MELODRAMA

DRACULA--Stage version of Bram Stoker's comedy of horrors (TIME, Oct. 17).

THE SILENT HOUSE--How a Chinaman performs when he gets out of the laundry (TIME, Feb. 20).

DIAMOND LIL--The East side is still the East side and Mae West hasn't changed much either (TIME, April 23).

Other able melodramas: THE TRIAL OF MARY DUGAN, INTERFERENCE, THE SCARLET Fox.

FUNNY

BURLESQUE--Troubles for two on the two-a-day, with a smile behind the tear (TIME, Sept. 12)..

OUR BETTERS--Ina Claire in a brilliant revival of Somerset Maugham's sneer at U. S. go-getters abroad (TIME, March 5).

VOLPONE--The Theatre Guild's riotous and modernized version of Ben Jonson's caustic comedy about the misfortunes of a merry miser (TIME, April 23).

Other good and funny plays: THE SHANNONS OF BROADWAY, THE QUEEN'S HUSBAND, THE ROYAL FAMILY, THE COMMAND TO LOVE, PARIS BOUND.

MUSICAL

Just for fun: Funny Face, Good News, Rain or Shine, Manhattan Mary, Keep Shufflin'.

More elaborate: Show Boat, A Connecticut Yankee, The Three Musketeers.