 The careers of other major composers of the Edwardian era (for example, Sidney Jones), began to fade by World War I when they failed to adopt the new American dance rhythms and styles, such as ragtime.However, in 1917, Talbot and Monckton were hired to write the score for the musical "The Boy", based on Pinero's "The Magistrate", a vehicle for American comedian Bill Berry, who had been the star of "High Jinks".