Terrytoons Studios' output was very hit and miss in all the years they were active. At their best, the cartoons were surprisingly very good, especially when the animation showed signs of huge improvement. At their worst, the cartoons were really rather bad, especially in the early years. A lot of their output ranges between mediocre and pretty decent. The 1950 batch landed in most of those categories, though none of the cartoons are inherently bad.
Some of the 1950 Terrytoons cartoons were below average and 'Stage Struck' is one of them. It is the first cartoon of the very short lived (2 cartoons) Half Pint series and it is not hard to see why the character was so short lived. There are plenty of short lived characters and shows that deserved a better chance and didn't get it, but Half Pint didn't have much at all to him and neither did his cartoons. 'Stage Struck' is a good example of why the character and his cartoons didn't work. It isn't awful, but it is a long way from good.
It has to be said though that 'Stage Struck' does have good things. Music is fantastic and as ever with Terrytoons the best thing about this cartoon. It is beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is terrific fun to listen to and the lively energy is present throughout, doing so well with adding to the action. Close behind was the animation, as said more than once this component has come on considerably since the Terrytoons Studio first started. Overall, it is nicely detailed, lively and colourful, with nice attention to detail and vibrant colours that don't look garish.
Occasionally it amuses mildly and the cartoon gains some momentum at the end that was really lacking beforehand.
A lot of issues are present though. Half Pint is very limited as a character in personality, veering on the wrong side of cute and too much of an annoyance. The rest of the characters are not very interesting either and have too little to do. The story is not much of one at all, is very predictable when there is any and badly lacks energy, only really at the end is there much.
Gags are also quite low in number and none of them are really that amusing or imaginative, all the gags that are present have been done before and with much sharper timing and imagination rather than the tired execution here. 'Stage Struck' could have done a lot more with the setting, it is a very colourful, exciting and dangerous setting that evokes a lot of nostalgia but the cartoon lacks all three of those things. None of the acts wow.
Concluding, rather mediocre. 4/10.