The Arcadians is an Edwardian musical comedy styled a "Fantastic Musical Play" in three acts with a book by Mark Ambient and Alexander M. Thompson, lyrics by Arthur Wimperis, and music by Lionel Monckton and Howard Talbot. The story concerns some idyllic Arcadians who wish to transform wicked London to a land of truth and simplicity.
First produced by Robert Courtneidge, the musical opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, on 29 April 1909, and ran for 809 performances. This was the third longest run for any musical theatre piece up to that time. The production starred Phyllis Dare, Dan Rolyat and Florence Smithson. A Broadway production opened in 1910 and ran for 193 performances. The piece was toured extensively, revived professionally in Britain, and a silent film version was made in 1927. It was popular with amateur theatre groups, particularly in Britain, throughout the 20th century. Recordings of some of its numbers were made in 1909 and 1915 by original members of the London cast, and more substantial excerpts and one complete performance have been released on compact disc.
The work is regarded by theatre historians as the finest example of its genre, with Monckton's melodic talent supported by Talbot's technical skill. The score contains elements characteristic of the Savoy Operas of the previous generation as well as broader numbers reminiscent of the music hall.
Background Arcadia, a legendary land of rural perfection peopled by beautiful virtuous innocents, first described by the Ancient Greeks, was a popular setting for writers of the 19th century, notably W. S. Gilbert (in Happy Arcadia and Iolanthe). The development of aviation and flying in the early years of the 20th century captivated the public's attention. Writers fantasised about the strange adventures that might befall those who ventured to travel by the new-fangled aeroplane. A forced landing, perhaps, in some long-forgotten land where time has stood still. These stories laid the basis for The Arcadians.Green, p. 14
By 1909, Lionel Monckton and Howard Talbot had each had met considerable success writing songs and scores for Edwardian musical comedies. Monckton had contributed to many hit George Edwardes shows, including The Geisha and Our Miss Gibbs, and written complete scores to successes like A Country Girl and The Cingalee."Lionel Monckton", British Musical Theatre, The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive, 31 August 2004, retrieved 5 June 2014 Talbot had a monstrous hit with A Chinese Honeymoon and had written such other long-running musicals as The Girl from Kays. He had worked with writer Alexander M. Thompson and producer Robert Courtneidge previously, including on The Blue Moon.Gänzl, Kurt. "Talbot, Howard (1865–1928)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 18 Sept 2008,
Historically, musically and dramatically, The Arcadians and the other Edwardian musical comedies sit between the fading world of British comic opera, like the Gilbert and Sullivan works, and the later styles of musical comedy and music hall. The Arcadians particularly illustrates this, with the innocent Arcadians representing the older style, and the brash Londoners embodying the new. This contrast between simplicity and cynicism drive the plot and its humour, a contrast personified in the character of Smith, who is magically transformed during the piece.Charlton, Fraser. "What are EdMusComs?", Newcastle University, retrieved 5 June 2014 In 1999, Raymond McCall observed that theatre historians have variously referred to the work as an operetta or a musical comedy, commenting:
Production history The piece was commissioned and staged by the impresario Robert Courtneidge, at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London. The production opened on 29 April 1909 and ran for 809 performances.Gaye, p. 1526 Only two musical shows had previously had longer runs: Dorothy (1886) and A Chinese Honeymoon (1901), which ran for 931 and 1,075 performances respectively.Gaye, p. 1525 The show starred Phyllis Dare as Eileen, Dan Rolyat as Smith, Harry Welchman as Jack, and Florence Smithson as Sombra. Cicely Courtneidge, the producer's daughter, later took over the role of Eileen.Pepys-Whiteley, D. "Courtneidge, Dame (Esmerelda) Cicely (1893–1980)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edition, January 2011, retrieved 5 June 2014 The musical director was Arthur Wood.Monckton et al. (1909 (1)), unnumbered introductory page The costumes were by Wilhelm, who 27 years earlier had designed the Arcadian costumes for Iolanthe.
A Broadway production opened at the Liberty Theatre in 1910, and ran for 193 performances, starring Frank Moulan, Connie Ediss and Julia Sanderson.Traubner, p. 200; and Green, p. 14 Courtneidge assembled a touring company, which played the piece in the British provinces for ten years.Green, p. 15 He revived the show in 1915 in London, with success. The cast included Welchman, Alfred Lester and H. C. Pearce from the original production; other members were Cicely Courtneidge, Jack Hulbert, Hope Charteris and Dan Agar."The Arcadians", The Observer, 23 May 1915, p. 7
The piece was popular with amateur theatre groups throughout the 20th century, particularly in Britain, where it received more than 225 productions.Bond, Ian. "The Arcadians: Reported Productions", St David's Players, retrieved 22 July 2010 In modern productions it has become customary to amend some of Ambient and Thompson's dialogue, which is full of topical references and old fashioned puns, but the gentle satire of the pretensions and follies of high society has not dated.McCall, p. 2; and Traubner, p. 200
Synopsis Act I Sombra, one of the beautiful but naïve Arcadians, is troubled by reports of a place beyond the sea where "monsters" live in cages of brick and stone and never tell the truth – a place called London. The Arcadians beg Father Time to bring them a Londoner. He reluctantly agrees and causes the amateur aviator James Smith, an ageing London restaurateur with passions for aeroplanes and philandering, to crash land in Arcadia, where no one tells lies or grows older, where money is unknown, and employment is unnecessary. The Arcadians and Smith exchange stories, and Smith introduces the Arcadians to some new concepts: ugliness, jealousy and lying. He attempts to seduce Sombra by telling a lie. Far from impressed, the Arcadians immerse him in the Well of Truth, from which he emerges transformed into a young man, wearing the scanty costume of Arcadia, with a luxuriant head of hair but minus his mutton-chop whiskers. They christen him "Simplicitas", and he will remain young until he tells a lie. His hosts dispatch him with missionary zeal, and two agelessly beautiful Arcadian nymphs, Sombra and her sister, Chrysea, to wicked London to "set up the truth in England for ever more, and banish the lie."
Act II
They begin their crusade at Askwood races, where it is Cup Day. They cause considerable curiosity, being still clothed in the costumes of Arcady (everyone else is dressed up formally in this scene, anticipating the similar scene in My Fair Lady 50 years later). But instead of improving the Londoners, the Arcadians adopt some of their wicked ways, including betting on the races. Here Simplicitas meets his wife Mrs. Smith, who, not recognising her husband, proceeds to fall in love with the young stranger. Simplicitas flirts with her and agrees to help her open up an Arcadian restaurant in London. Then comes an opportunity for Simplicitas to distinguish himself. Jack Meadows, who was to have ridden his temperamental horse "The Deuce" has been thrown by the animal, and Peter Doody, the hapless replacement jockey, has also been injured by "The Deuce". Sombra arranges that Simplicitas shall take his mount, as the Arcadians have the gift of speech with animals, and the brute becomes as gentle as a lamb. Simplicitas (while sound asleep), upon "The Deuce," wins the race, to the great satisfaction of its owner. Romantic complications ensue between Meadows and Eileen Cavanagh, a young Irish woman.
Act III Simplicitas/Smith's Arcadian restaurant has become the rage of London, as the menu is that of the simple life. Simplicitas, however, is not living and spreading the simple life as his Arcadian friends had hoped, but rather is having "the time of his life." Mrs. Smith becomes suspicious of Simplicitas, and in endeavouring to explain the reason for an all-night absence, he tells another lie. He falls into the ornamental well in the restaurant and emerges as his former self, with his bald head and shaggy whiskers, to the astonishment and somewhat to the confusion of his wife. Sombra and Chrysea, realising that their mission to make all London tell the truth has failed, return to Arcadia – but they leave two happy couples behind.
Roles and original cast
Smith/Simplicitas, an elderly businessman (baritone) – Dan Rolyat Sombra, an Arcadian (soprano) – Florence Smithson Eileen Cavanagh, a natural Irish girl (mezzo-soprano) – Phyllis Dare Chrysaea, an Arcadian (soubrette soprano) – May Kinder Mrs Smith, Smith's wife (non-singing) – Ada Blanche Jack Meadows, a racehorse owner (baritone) – Harry Welchman Bobbie, a man-about-town (baritone) – Nelson Keys Peter Doody, an unsuccessful jockey (baritone) – Alfred Lester Astrophel, an Arcadian shepherd (tenor) – H. E. Pearce Amaryllis, an Arcadian shepherdess (soprano) – Billie Sinclair Strephon, an Arcadian shepherd (baritone) – Charles Charteris Sir George Paddock, a racegoer (non-singing) – Akerman May Lady Barclay (non-singing) – Violet Graham Time (baritone) – George Elton Percy Marsh (non-singing) – Deane Percival
Musical numbers The score was substantially revised during the original run, with new numbers interpolated. The numbers listed in the table are from a 1909 vocal score.Monckton et al. (1909 (1))
Words byMusic by Act I 1. Introduction and opening chorus – "Arcadians are we" Wimperis Talbot 2. "I quite forgot Arcadia" – Father Time and Chorus Wimperis Monckton 3. "The Joy of Life" – Sombra, Chrysæa, Strephon and Astrophel Wimperis Talbot 4. "Look what hovers there above us" – Chorus Wimperis Talbot 5. "The Pipes of Pan are calling" – Sombra Wimperis Monckton 6. "All a lie!" – Chorus Wimperis Talbot 7. "Sweet Simplicitas" – Simplicitas and Chorus Wimperis Talbot 8. Finale: "To all and each" – Sombra, Chrysæa, Strephon, Astrophel and Chorus Wimperis Talbot Act II 9. "That's all over, bar the shouting" – Chorus Wimperis Monckton 10. "Back your fancy" – Bobbie and Chorus Wimperis Monckton 11. "The Girl with a Brogue" – Eileen and Chorus Wimperis Monckton 12. Shower chorus – "This is really altogether too provoking" Wimperis Talbot 13. "Arcady is ever young" – Sombra Monckton and Wimperis Monckton 14. "Somewhere" – Simplicitas Wimperis Monckton 15. "Fickle Fortune" – Jack and Chorus Wimperis Monckton 16. "Charming Weather" – Eileen and Jack Monckton and Wimperis Monckton 17. Finale – "The horses are out" Wimperis Talbot Act III 18. "Plant your posies" – Chorus Wimperis Talbot 19. "I like London" – Chrysæa Wimperis Talbot 20. "My Motter" – Doody Wimperis Talbot 21. Chorus of Belgravians – "Cheer for Simplicitas!" – Chorus Wimperis Monckton 22. "Bring me a rose – Eileen Monckton and Wimperis Monckton 23. "Truth is so beautiful" – Jack, Bobbie and Simplicitas Wimperis Monckton 24. "Half-past two" – Eileen and Jack Greenbank and Wimperis Talbot 25. "Light is my heart" – Sombra Wimperis Talbot 26. Finale – "Truth is so beautiful" (reprise) Wimperis Monckton