“ARCHIE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 404, 12 July 1928, Page 15

“ARCHIE”

MUSICAL COMEDY AT ST. JAMES A rich vein of humour, and subtle shafts of wit, are the keynotes of “Archie,” the entertaining comedy now running at St. Janies Theatre, the new Auckland home of Fuller’s. The piece presents abundant opportunities for the “personal touch” between stage and auditorium, and in this respect it is but scant justice to Miss Elsie Prince and Mr. Jimmy Godden to say that they make the most of their opportunities. Seldom has more clever fooling been witnessed than when the woe-begone “Archie” comes forward to the footlights and regales an liilarous house with a pseudo-pathetic account of liis matrimonial troubles, and liis distaste for the part of the “strong, silent man,” who confesses that he is head over heels in love with his flighty young wife, and has no stomach for the part which has been trust upon him by a rich and autocratic uncle. In this, and a subsequent scene with Miss Prince, Mr. Godden fairly brought down the house. Miss Prince, who is an old favourite with Auckland audiences, retains that freshness and vivacity in all her work which has made her one of the most popular little artistes on tho Australian and New Zealand stage today. She had a part which was by no means easy, especially when Mr. Godden threatened to “steal the show away” with his hilarious fooling, but she kept the balance of the piece with a deftness and sureness which spoke volumes for the little star.