''King of Cadonia'' is an English musical in two acts with a book by

Frederick Lonsdale Frederick Lonsdale (5 February 1881 – 4 April 1954) was a British playwright known for his librettos to several successful musicals early in the 20th century, including '' King of Cadonia'' (1908), ''The Balkan Princess'' (1910), ''Betty'' (1 ...

, lyrics by

Adrian Ross Arthur Reed Ropes (23 December 1859 – 11 September 1933), 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 is a common male given name of Brittonic languages, Brythonic origin. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. The etymology is disputed. It may derive from the Celtic ''Artos'' meaning “Bear”. An ...

and music by Sidney Jones and

Frederick Rosse Frederick Rosse (1867 – 20 June 1940) was an English composer of light music and operetta. After studying music in Germany and elsewhere, he began his career as a musical director at London theatres. He composed suites of incidental music for ...

. It opened at the

Prince of Wales Theatre The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre in Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in London. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner. The theatre ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

on 3 September 1908, produced by

Frank Curzon Frank Curzon (17 September 1868 – 2 July 1927) 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, am ...

, and ran for 333 performances. It starred

Isabel Jay Isabel Emily Jay (17 October 1879 – 26 February 1927) 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 Edwardian musical comedies. During ...

Huntley Wright Huntley Wright (7 August 1868 – 10 July 1941) was an English stage and film actor, comedian, dancer and singer, best known for creating roles in many important Edwardian musical comedies. His career spanned more than half a century, beginnin ...

, and

Bertram Wallis Bertram Wallis (22 February 1874 – 11 April 1952) 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 a ...

. There was a brief Broadway production in 1910 with additional music by

Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) 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 ...

at the

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 (1185 Broadway). It was demolished in 1939. Built in 1868, it was managed by Augustin Daly in the mid-1870s. In 1877, ...

and directed by

Joseph W. Herbert Joseph William Herbert (27 November 1863–18 February 1923) was a British-born American director, silent-film actor, singer and dramatist notable for being the first person to play Ko-Ko in America in a pirate production of Gilbert and Sulli ...

. 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 Alasia In 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 An heir presumptive is the person entitled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir apparent or a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question. ...

to the Cadonian 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 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 –

*Princess Marie, his daughter –

*Alexis, King of Cadonia –

*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

External links

Synopsis, list of roles and list of musical numbersInformation about the Broadway production
{{Frederick Lonsdale 1908 musicals British musicals Fictional dukes and duchesses Fictional kings Musicals by Frederick Lonsdale Musicals by Sidney Jones Original musicals West End musicals