Theatre: Best Plays in Manhattan: Jan. 9, 1928

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

SERIOUS

PORGY—A Negro cast acting a Negro tragedy with eminent ability.

COQUETTE—Helen Hayes superbly revealing the love tragedy of a small southern town.

MAX RIENHARDT’S SEASON—German productions, enormous, delicate, beautiful, unique.

JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK—The best of the Irish theatre in a glowing exceedingly native importation.

Other well regarded serious plays are ESCAPE; BLESS YOU, SISTER; CIVIC REPERTORY THEATRE’S series; BEHOLD THE BRIDEGROOM.

MELODRAMA

BROADWAY—The stern saga of love and gunnery behind the scenes in a Manhattan night club.

THE TRIAL OF MARY DUGAN—A courtroom scene in which a very lovely lady just escapes the death penalty.

INTERFERENCE—A most imposingly well mannered English murder.

THE RACKET—Police, bootleggers, easy virtue, guns, two deaths; Chicago in the rough.

Other able melodramas: NIGHTSTICK ; DRACULA ; CELEBRITY.

FUNNY

THE DOCTOR’S DILEMMA—Flawless reincarnation of Bernard Shaw’s early cartoon of London doctors.

THE ROYAL FAMILY—Reviewed in this issue.

THE COMMAND TO LOVE—Diplomats with their hair down.

BURLESQUE—Life laughs in tights and putty noses behind the scenes in burlesque theatres.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW—Boisterous Shakespeare with all modern improvements.

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

MUSICAL

Songs and slips on the banana peel are well managed in: Manhattan Mary, Show Boat, A Connecticut Yankee, Hit the Deck, Good News, Funny Face.