University of Virginia Library

Not Cunning

The major disappointment is,
unfortunately, the playing of Finch
by Mr. Harper himself. He makes
the character likeable enough, but
he doesn't put Finch across as the
sly rascal the script presents him as.
The intelligence and cunning which
guide the hero are missing, as Mr.
Harper occasionally seems to still
be playing dumb Prince Dauntless
in "Once Upon a Mattress." It's not
so much a bad performance Mr.
Harper does have a winning stage
presence as an incomplete one;
half of the character just isn't there.
This, of course, is one of the
dangers of an actor directing
himself.