"This short hepcat opera buffa is a boffola," caroled Variety in its review of archy and mehitabel. Set to jazzy, tricky but agreeable music by George (Tubby the Tuba) Kleinsinger, the hard knocks and good times of Shinbone Alley came to life last week at Manhattan's Town Hall, providing the music season's pleasantest half hour.
Librettist Joe Darion fairly faithfully followed the saga of archy, described by his creator, the late Columnist Don Marquis, as a sensitive cockroach who had to express himself or die. For archy, writing was even more painful than for most poets: he had to type each letter...
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