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Show "IDE ARCADIANS" AT QRPHE1 TONIGHT : -" The fact that "The Arcadians" was a tiemendous hit In I.ondon docs not mean anything on this side of the Atluntlc, where people do not alwnjs Indorse, the pea soup fos notion of comedy. By the same, token, New York Is not always allowed to judge for the Far West, but when London, Now York and the United' States generally,1 place their stamp of approval upon i an attraction and hay that it lb good, you are reasonably safe to framing your mind to the Idea that jou are going to like It whatovor It is Last night, at the Moore theater, ihe big opening audlonce applauded loud and long and with both hands It - wondered at tho end of the first act tf tho pastoral atmosphere would be continued in what followed, and then settled down to a chcorfnl acceptance of everything with a part of Its mem on, for tunes dedicated to Messrs Moncton and Talbot, so as to whistle and hum today the qomposers' section of "The Arcadians " The People Who Devised It. Besides the composers named above tho other contributors are given on tho programme as Mark Ambient, A. M. Thompson and Arthur Wimplris and the colaboratlon has been effective. effec-tive. Contrary to precedent in musical musi-cal comedy matters, there Is a consistency consis-tency In the book that Is refreshing in these days of scrambled thought, a well wrought out scheme of music that fits the story and an atmosphere of elegance that Is spread out over the whole production. It takes you from a beautiful suggestion of a near-fairy near-fairy laud to tho Loudon of this morning, morn-ing, to fad-living, fad-following London, Lon-don, with artificiality offoral in contract con-tract to the understanding of nature and her creatures, An Englishman named James Smith starts out In his airship for a trip and his Journey lands him In Arcadia. He initiates himself by tolling a He and Is thrown Into tho well of truth, for penance He comes out changed to an Arcadian, with perpetual youth, and Is renamed Slmpllcltas Ho tells of the was of London and It Is decided decid-ed that ho and two Arcadian maidens shall return to teach simplicity; to out-Duncan the propaganda of Duncan, disciple of the close-to-nature. "Where Their Task Leads Them. Thoy laud at a fashionable raco track and Slmpllcltas rides In place of an Injured Jockey. The horse wlnB of course and the owner who depended de-pended upon victory to secure the, hand of a girl he loves, Is treated to a display of Arcadian affection that threatens the whole reform movement move-ment The other Incidents that follow, including in-cluding the restaurant scene, con-evince con-evince the maidens from far-away that the Londoners will not be taught sincerity, sin-cerity, or slmpljcfty and they return to their home, after changing Smith, back Into an Englishman and restoring restor-ing his citizenship. It takes two hours and a half to play It, every moment of which Is dedicated dedi-cated to a bright, well told story, with exquisite musical-dressing, splendidly Interpreted. Just as It stands "The ArcadianB" Is the most artistic theatrical theatri-cal episode of the1 year. The company Is an admirable grouping group-ing of capable people. Conspicuous in Mr. Frohman'a company Is Miss Ruth Thorp, who has an unusual assembling assemb-ling of qualities for her work, an attractive at-tractive personality, grace and strong, almoBt flawIesB voice that she employed employ-ed in several delightful numbers. She is dainty and pretty and won a large sharo of the praise due the perform ance. The Comedy Element Strong. Alice Russontalso scored for her capital singing and dancing numbers, "and Marie Shields furnished an ample am-ple personality to the part of Mrs. Smith to Its advantage. Smith, the discordant note In Arcadia, was well played by Johnny Osborne, and the comedy honors were divided between him and Gilbert Chllds, as Doody, the jockey. Vernon Davidson was capital as Jack Meadows, and Eddie Morris dancing danc-ing as Bobby, was a bright spot on ho bill. A general evenneBS attached to the work of the roraalnlng mombers of tho cast and the effect of careful selection was dlslpa3'ed on every hand. Tho chorus Is required to sing and It doos but It Is also made up of handsome girls and good-looking young men. The three settings are masterpieces of stage craftsmanship and tho costuming Is lavish. Thore Is careful attention In the color schemes of the different acts and a completeness as to detill Is conspicuous. conspic-uous. "The Arcadians' is all that has been promised. |