ARCADIA

Part romance, part mystery, and part philosophical exploration, this play takes place in one location and two centuries. In a British country manor during the early nineteenth century, Thomasina, a precocious teenager, flirts with her tutor while making stunning scientific discoveries. Examining the period in alternating scenes are three modern-day researchers. One seeks to learn if Lord Byron, as rumored, killed one of the manor's inhabitants; one tries to identify a mysterious hermit who once lived there; the third explores the biology of the manor's fauna. As usual with Stoppard, the dialogue sparkles, and more lurks under the text than on its surface. Jennifer Dundas, as Thomasina, steals the show from her excellent cast mates, not only imbuing her young character with intelligence but with an irresistibly endearing charm. Y.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2009]