Empire, B'way at 40th St.--If it is not the best, it is the most quintessentially dramatic play on Broadway; and not much was lost in the translation. Helen Menken, as the woman in question--a pathological question--is good if a little bizarre.
BEYOND THE HORIZON
Bijou, West 45th St.,--Aline MacMahon gives an impelling performance in this Eugene O'Neil play of a farmhouse, which does not hurt quite as much as "Desire under the Elms" but is quite as forceful.
THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV
The Guild, West 52nd St.,--As Jacques Copeau, one of the greatest directors of which the present day theatre can boast, has directed this, his own version, of the Dostoevsky play, it can't help being good. Clare Eames and Alfred Lunt see to it that Copeau is not slighted on the acting end.
OH KAY
West 45th St.--A musical comedy tart is both musical and comic. Gershwin Brothers saw to it that Gertrude Lawrence, Oscar Shaw, and Victor Moore had the material, and these three, aided by the dancing of Harland Dixon and Betty Compton, made good use of it. When they play "Do Do Do" and "Clap Yo" Hands," the audience does.
OH PLEASE, FULTON
West 46th St. What with this and what with that, Beatrice Lillie, especially when she is augmented by Charlie Winninger, keeps the audience in uproars. As soon as she leaves the stage, however, you'll tear your hair, (if you're bald you'll scratch where the hair was) and wonder why you ever came. When she comes back, you'll wonder why you ever wondered, and how!
PEGGY ANN. VANDERBILT.
West 46th St. If "Oh Kay" wasn't in town this would be be best musical comedy there. But even "Oh Kay" hasn't got Betty Starbuck. She's a riot on roller skates. And you should see that chorus dance. It's the nearest thing to perfect in New York. Hart, Rogers, and Fields wrote the show; and that would be enough recommendation even if Helen Ford and Lulu McConnell weren't in it.
PIRATES OF PENZANCE
Plymouth, West 45th St. Gilbert and Sullivan, who show no aversion to good lyrics and music, which many modern musical comedy writers do, wrote this and "Iolanthe" (which gives Thursday evening performances). It is a good performance of a superb play.
SACHA GUITRY AND YVONNE PRINTEMPS.
Chanin's, West 46th St. Whether they are "Mozart" or "L'Illusioniste" or one of their revues they will be just as good, and the play just as bad. They're a joy to watch.
Of the plays in prospect, the all-star revival of "Trelawney of the Wells," Martin Brown's "The Dark" (tried out in Boston last year), and the Neighborhood Playhouse's production of "Pinwheel" seems to be most promising, with the last being the most likely to be fine.