• U.S.

Theatre: Best Plays in Manhattan: Jan. 16, 1928

2 minute read
TIME

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

SERIOUS

MAX REIXHARDT’S SEASON—Germany pours her dearest treasures of the theatre for the U. S. taste (TIME, Nov. 28, Dec. 19, Jan. 2; this issue).

COQUETTE—The snap of heart strings in a flirt’s tragic battle against village prejudice. Helen Hayes. (TIME, Nov. 21).

PORGY—Laughter and sobs in a close-up of Negro life in the poor quarter of Charleston (TIME, Oct. 24).

Other well regarded serious productions: THE IRISH PLAYERS; CIVIC REPERTORY THEATRE’S series; ESCAPE; BLESS YOU, SISTER; BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM.

MELODRAMA

INTERFERENCE—The death rattle with an English accent; patent leather playing that doesn’t crack (TIME, Oct. 31).

THE TRIAL OF MARY DUGAN—Taking the audience into the jury box as a chorus girl is tried for her life (TIME, Oct. 3).

BROADWAY—Rendezvous with death in a Manhattan nightclub (TIME, Sept. 27, 1926).

Other able melodramas: THE RACKET, DRACULA, NIGHTSTICK, CELEBRITY.

FUNNY

BURLESQUE—The stormy sorrow and delight of trouping with a burlesque show (TIME, Sept. 12).

THE COMMAND TO LOVE—Snappy stories about European diplomats (TIME, Oct. 3).

THE DOCTOR’S DILEMMA—Immaculate revival of Shaw’s disrespectful comedy of physicians and surgeons (TIME, Dec. 5).

THE ROYAL FAMILY—If you wonder what an actor or actress thinks about, this will do excellently (TIME, Jan. 9).

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW—Slapstick Shakespeare irreverently and amusingly revived in short skirts (TIME, Nov. 7).

Other laughing matters: THE BABY CYCLONE; THE SHANNONS OF BROADWAY; PARIS BOUND.

MUSICAL

For silk, lullabies, wit, jokes: HIT THE DECK, A CONNECTICUT YANKEE, MANHATTAN MARY, GOOD NEWS, SHOW BOAT, FUNNY FACE.

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