King of Cadonia
Encyclopedia
Frederick Lonsdale
Frederick Lonsdale was an English dramatist.-Personal life:Lonsdale was born Lionel Frederick Leonard in St Helier, Jersey, the son of Susan and John Henry Leonard, a tobacconist. He began as a private soldier and worked for the London and South Western Railway...
, lyrics by Adrian Ross
Adrian Ross
For the NFL player see Adrian Ross Arthur Reed Ropes , better known under the pseudonym Adrian Ross, was a prolific writer of lyrics, contributing songs to more than sixty British musical comedies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
and Arthur Wimperis
Arthur Wimperis
Arthur Harold Wimperis was an English illustrator, playwright, lyricist and Academy Award-winning screenwriter....
and music by Sidney Jones
Sidney Jones
James Sidney Jones , usually credited as Sidney Jones, was an English conductor and composer, most famous for producing the musical scores for a series of musical comedy hits in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods....
and Frederick Rosse. It opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre
Prince of Wales Theatre
The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre on Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in the City of Westminster. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner...
in London on 3 September 1908, produced by Frank Curzon
Frank Curzon
Frank Curzon was an English actor who became an important theatre manager, leasing the Royal Strand Theatre, Avenue Theatre, Criterion Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre and Wyndham's Theatre, among others....
, and ran for 333 performances. It starred Isabel Jay
Isabel Jay
Isabel Jay was an English opera singer and actress, best known for her performances in soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and in musical comedies...
, Huntley Wright
Huntley Wright
Huntley Wright was an English stage and film actor, comedian, dancer and singer, best known for creating roles in many important Edwardian musical comedies....
and Bertram Wallis
Bertram Wallis
Bertram Wallis was an English actor and singer known for his performances in plays, musical comedies and operettas in the early 20th century, first as leading men and then in character roles. He also later appeared in several film roles.-Early years:Wallis was born in London...
. There was a brief Broadway production in 1910 with additional music by Jerome Kern
Jerome Kern
Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
at the Fifth Avenue Theatre
Fifth Avenue Theatre
Fifth Avenue Theatre was a Broadway theatre in New York City in the United States located at 31 West 28th Street and Broadway. It was demolished in 1939....
.
This was Lonsdale's first success. Famous songs included "The Wind Of Love", "The Portrait" and "Disguises".
Synopsis
Act 1 - The Gardens of the Duke of AlasiaIn Cadonia, a mythical country where the king is frequently replaced, the soon-to-be crowned sovereign, Alexis, is tired of the limitations that are placed on his freedom. He learns that there is a conspiracy afoot to assassinate him, and therefore he shaves off his moustache and beard to escape. The disguise is successful. He soon meets Princess Marie, the daughter of the Duke of Alasia, heir presumptive to the Cadonia throne. The princess falls in love with the handsome stranger, and she is pleased to learn that the king has mysteriously disappeared. But her feelings of relief are not shared by her father, the duke, who dreads above all things being called upon to rule over such an unstable country as Cadonia.
Act 2 - The Palace of the King of Cadonia
Alexis, still disguised, infiltrates the murderous conspirators, the chief of whom is posing as head gardener to the duke. He wins the favourable opinion of the conspirators, so that when the his true identity is finally revealed, they acknowledge that, at last, Cadonia has been fortunate enough to secure a monarch who may be trusted to rule his people discreetly and bravely. The princess is equally pleased to find that love and duty will now go hand-in-hand and the timid duke is no less delighted at the prospect of avoiding the throne.
Roles and original cast
- The Duke of Alasia, Heir presumptive to the throne – Huntley WrightHuntley WrightHuntley Wright was an English stage and film actor, comedian, dancer and singer, best known for creating roles in many important Edwardian musical comedies....
- Princess Marie, his daughter – Isabel JayIsabel JayIsabel Jay was an English opera singer and actress, best known for her performances in soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and in musical comedies...
- Alexis, King of Cadonia – Bertram WallisBertram WallisBertram Wallis was an English actor and singer known for his performances in plays, musical comedies and operettas in the early 20th century, first as leading men and then in character roles. He also later appeared in several film roles.-Early years:Wallis was born in London...
- General Bonski – Robert Cunningham
- Captain Laski – Pope Stamper
- Lieutenant Jules – Harold Deacon
- Lieutenant Saloff – Cameron Carr
- Panix, Secretary to the Duke of Alasia – Arthur Laceby
- Laborde, Head gardener to the Duke of Alasia – Akerman May
- Bran, Servant to Captain Laski – George Barrett
- Militza, Maid to Princess Marie – Gracie Leigh
- Stephanie, First Lady in Waiting to Princess Marie – Peggy Bethel
- Duchess of Alasia – Amy Martin
- Ladies in Waiting: Natine, Wadna, Ottaline and Fridoline – Queenie Merrall, Gladys Beech, Claire Lynch and Gladys Anderson
- Chorus of soldiers, gardeners, peasants, ladies of the Court, etc.
Musical numbers
Act I- As Happy As A King - Laski
- Not A Little Bit Like You - Militza
- The Man I Marry - Marie
- Reasons of State - Marie, Duchess, Duke, Panix
- Hail! The King - Chorus
- Overrated - Alexis
- The Barber - Laski & Chorus of Guards
- The Lady Of the Castle In the Air - Marie and Alexis
- Do Not Hesitate To Shoot - Duke
- The Portrait - Marie, Alexis and Girls
Act II
- In the Swim - Militza
- The Wind of Love - Marie
- There's A King In the Land Today - Alexis
- Situations - Militza
- Things That I Know I Could Do - Duke
- The Woman and the Man - Marie and Alexis
- Change Partners - Stephanie and Laski
- Disguises - Militza and Duke
- Love and Duty - Marie and Alexis