 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.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").