Leo, the Royal Cadet


Leo, the Royal Cadet is a light opera with music by Oscar Ferdinand Telgmann. The libretto was by George Frederick Cameron. It was composed in Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 1889. The work centres on Nellie's love for Leo, a cadet at the Royal Military College of Canada who becomes a hero serving during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Empire. The operetta focussed on typical character types, events and concerns of Telgmann and Cameron's time and place.

Background

The story is loosely based on actual events. The character 'Colonel Hewett' is based on Colonel Edward Osborne Hewett, C.M.G. who served as the first Commandant of the Royal Military College of Canada 1875-86. The character of Leo, who leaves his sweetheart Nellie to fight the Zulus in Natal, and other cadets may be based on several early cadets who were decorated for valour. Huntley Brodie Mackay, a Royal Engineer was the first ex-cadet to win a Distinguished Service Order, served in Bechuanaland 1884-9 and as commanding royal engineer in West Africa 1887-9. Mackay fought tribes near Sierra Leone and became an acting administrator of the British East Africa Company. William Henry Robinson, Royal Engineer, the first ex-cadet to be killed in action, died while attempting to blow up the gate of a stockade at Tambi near Sierra Leone. Kenneth J.R. Campbell was the first ex-cadet to be mentioned in despatches for his part in the operation against the town of Brohemie, Niger Coast Protectorate. Sir George Norton Cory participated in operations in Natal, South Africa in 1899 and later edited 'The Diary of Reverend Francis Owen M. A., missionary with Dingaan in 1837-38 together with extracts from the writings of the interpreters in Zulu, Messrs. Hulley and Kirkman'.
The character Cetcho, a Zulu chief is based on Cetshwayo. The Battalion Sergeant Major character who sings The Royal Cadet - The Battalion Sergeant Major was the senior cadet at the Royal Military College of Canada from 1878–1923 and 1934-42. Since 1952, the senior cadet has been known as a Cadet Wing-Commander.

Performance history

Musical dramas such as Leo, the Royal Cadet were important entertainment in the 19th century.
The work premiered "under the Patronage of the Commandant and Staff, and Gentleman Cadets of the Royal Military College" on 11 July 1889 at Martin's Opera House in Kingston. The opera went on to tour, in Canada and the United States. It played successfully in Kingston, Ottawa, Guelph, Toronto, Woodstock, Ontario and Utica, New York. There were 1,700 performances in the closing years of the 19th Century and as late as 1925.
The play was not performed for 75 years. The Toronto Operetta Theatre hired Canadian composer John Greer to revise and orchestrate the piano score and Virginia Reh to revise the libretto. In 1982 excerpts from Leo, the Royal Cadet were performed at Music at Sharon and in 1990 excerpts were performed in Toronto and Ottawa. Seven excerpts from the work were reprinted in Canadian Musical Heritage Society, vol 10.
In recent years, the musical play has been performed in Canada, for example by the Toronto Operetta Theatre. For revivals, the opera was shortened from three acts into two and 8 of the 17 characters were eliminated.
Commandant Commodore William S. Truelove, as Honorary Patron for Toronto Operetta Theatre's Leo, The Royal Cadet, attended on Opening Night with a contingent of cadets and alumni on February 19, 2010.
The synopsis of this version is given below.

Roles

RoleVoice typePremiere Cast, 11 July 1889
Leo, a gentleman cadettenor
Wind, a poettenor
Andy, a dude baritone
Phillip, a soldier
Capt. Bloodswigger, R. M. C.baritone
Colonel Hewett, the Commandant of the Royal Military College of Canadabaritone
The German professor, R. M. Ctenor
The French professor, R. M. C.tenor
Nellie, Leo's sweetheartsoprano
Caroline, a friend of Capt. Bloodswiggermezzo-soprano
Madge, a friend of Wind
The headsman, Ketcho, a Zulu chiefbass-baritone

Synopsis (revised two-act version)

The opera is a light-hearted piece about love and war which traces the career of Leo before, during, and after he entered the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. The opera opens with Leo and his beloved Nellie on picnic grounds outside the Royal Military College. Leo is recruited by Captain Bloodswigger to fight with the Zulus in Natal, Africa. Leo is awarded the Victoria Cross for valour. The opera ends with his reunion with his true love, Nellie, on a village green on the St. Lawrence River.

Act 1

The opera opens on the picnic grounds outside the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Queen Victoria’s birthday, May 1878. Leo the Royal Cadet and his sweetheart Nellie are enjoying a picnic party. Captain Wellington Bloodswigger takes the opportunity to recruit officers for the Anglo-Zulu war. Wind, a young poet and composer friend of Leo attends the picnic in pursuit of material for his Faerie Opera.. The Ladies led by Nellie, Caroline and Madge, carry their picnic baskets. Captain Wellington Bloodswigger introduces the Royal Military College Commandant Hewitt, who introduces the new French and German professors and invites the entire party for a tour of the College. Nellie is concerned by Leo’s plans to join the forces against the Zulus in Africa and regrets she ever listened to his words of love. The picnic party resumes with dances, and military hymns. Leo and Wind decide to serve. The commandant, noting Nellie’s distress decides to woo her for himself. The commandant decides to rid himself of Leo by ordering Captain Bloodswigger to add both Leo and Wind to the next party leaving for the war. The celebrations end with a hymn to pumpkin pie and tender farewells.

Act 2

;Scene 1
Leo is with a group of soldiers serving at the British Camp at Isandiwana, January 1879. He thinks of Nellie. Leo cannot sleep and sounds the bugle upon the impending threat of the Zulus.
The Zulus demand a return of their dear native land and battle against the invader.
;Scene 2
In the spring of 1879, Nellie and her friends are on the grounds outside the Royal Military College. Nellie is concerned that Leo may have been killed in action. Caroline consoles her. They remain faithful and are uninterested in romantic opportunities with Andy and his friends. The ladies mock these advances in. Leo, Captain Wellington Bloodswigger arrive with Wind. Wind who puts on a performance of the Wind's Faerie Opera. All sing as the curtain falls.

Musical numbers (original three-act version)

Act 1

;Scene 1
An inn in the Village of Dead-and-Alive. As the curtain rises, Gaspard, Bloodswigger, Leo, Quip, el al, are discovered about the table.
;Scene 2
The Village Green. Farewell picnic to Leo
;Scene 1
The Gates of R. M. C, Kingston. Commandant and Students enter and face Leo
;Scene 2
The R. M. C. Court. The Court of the Bulldogs in full session. White sheets, masks with bulldog faces, headsman and axe, etc. Wind in night shirt, bound etc.
Outside the gates of R.M.C.
;Scene 1
The R.M.C
;Scene 2
Three months later, Isamdula. The British tents by moonlight in the distance.
;Scene 3
Zululand, near Isamdula. Night. Enter Cetcho and Zulu warriors.
;Scene 4
The village green in Dead and Alive. Nellie discovered sitting on a mound.