The Arcadians was composed by Howard Talbot and Lionel
Monckton, the most successful songs writers of the age. The
book was by Mark Ambient and Alexander M Thompson and the
lyrics by Arthur Wimperis. The show opened the 28th of
April 1909 at the Shaftesbury theatre, where it ran for a
total of 809 performances.
In happy Arcadia, the Land that Time forgot, Sombra 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! When Father Time
appears, the Arcadians beg him to bring them a Londoner. He
reluctantly agrees, and causes restaurateur James Smith's
aeroplane to crash land. Not long after he arrives, he
attempts to seduce Sombra by telling a lie. The populace
are so shocked that they throw him into 'The Well of
Truth'. He emerges a transformed man - he is now a youthful
Arcadian, and will remain so until he tells a lie. Giving
him the name 'Simplicitas', Sombra and her sister,
Chrysaea, take him back to London to convert all people to
their vision of Truth and Rustic Simplicity.
It is Cup Day at Askwood Racecourse. Jack Meadows has
been thrown by his temperamental horse 'The Deuce', and has
to rely on the hopeless jockey Peter Doody to ride it. His
luck improves when he meets Eileen Cavanagh, a young Irish
woman who is also sought after by another racehorse-owner,
Sir George Paddock. In a sudden burst of thunder and
lightning, the Arcadians arrive, much to everyone's
amazement. Smith finds that his wife, Mrs. Smith, doesn't
recognise him as Simplicitas, and is able to flirt
outrageously with her! He agrees to help her open up an
Arcadian restaurant in London. Meanwhile, Peter Doody has
been savaged by The Deuce, leaving no rider. Sombra saves
the day by talking to the horse, who agrees to win the race
with Smith fast asleep on his back!
The Arcadian Restaurant is a great success, with all
fashionable London flocking to eat there and Smith having
the time of his life. Unfortunately, Jack's fondness for
the free-thinking Arcadian girls has caused great problems
between himself and Eileen, and it is necessary for Sombra
to bring them back together again. Mrs. Smith and Doody,
becoming increasingly suspicious of Simplicitas, trick him
into telling a lie. He falls into the ornamental well at
the restaurant, only to re-emerge, with some relief, as old
James Smith again. Sombra and Chrysaea, realising that
their mission to make all London tell the truth has failed,
return to Arcadia - but they do leave two happy couples
behind!