Talk:Leo, the Royal Cadet

Illustrations
These illustrations (Mackenzie Building, RMC, in 1880, and Flag of the Royal Military College of Canada) don't appear to relate to the work. What is the point of putting them here? -- Klein zach  03:09, 5 January 2010 (UTC)


 * These pictures are used on many related articles so I've removed them. -- Klein zach  04:00, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

I included the pictures of the Mackenzie Building (main RMC building) circa 1880 and RMC flag because they relate directly to the opera. The start and end of the opera is set on the grounds of the Royal Military College of Canada circa 1880s. The lead and many of the other characters in the opera are based on college cadets, ex-cadets, faculty and their love interests. In the opera, the characters wear cadet uniforms and sing about life at the RMC.Victoriaedwards (talk) 16:08, 16 January 2010 (UTC)


 * OK. How about including pictures of the grounds? When readers click on the link to the RMC they will see the picture of the building. This is a hyperlinked encyclopedia so we don't need to duplicate material. -- Klein zach  00:56, 18 January 2010 (UTC)

Synopsis vs musical numbers
The synopsis is in two acts, but the musical numbers have three acts. Why is this? -- Klein zach  14:49, 8 January 2010 (UTC)

Originally Leo, the Royal Cadet (1889) by Oscar Ferdinand Telgmann libretto by George F. Cameron was in three acts. I came up with the list of characters and musical numbers from a microform of the original opera, which I came across online The opera is important historically since 'Leo, the Royal Cadet' - Canada's first opera, dealt with the Royal Military College of Canada.

The Operetta was revised in two acts by Guillermo Silva-Marin, Founder and General Director Toronto Operetta Theatre. The Operatta was adapted by Virginia Reh and additional Music was composed by S. Codman. The score was adapted, arranged and orchestrated by John Greer. I came up with the synopsis and the voices from the Toronto Operatta Theatre website. To suit modern tastes, some changes were made - the story was simplified, the revised version has fewer characters than the original etc. http://www.torontooperetta.com/synopsis_production_3.htm

I have been writing a few articles for e-veritas the alumni journal regarding the original and revised operettas. The Judge's song deals with a 'ghost at RMC.' We are the bulldogs deals with the initial mascot and recruiting (senior cadets disciplining junior cadets). 'The Royal Cadet - The Battalion Sergeant-Major' deals with the senior cadet at the College. According to Canada's RMC: A History of the Royal Military College, many of the details in the opera are correct. The first Commandant was Col. Hewett; there really was a French and a German professor.

I recently emailed Guillermo Silva-Marin. Apparently, Leo, Canada's first operetta was not put on for many years because the original Martin's/Grand theatre in Kingston, Ontario burned down and the score/important source material were lost. I have recently emailed the curator of the RMC museum to see if he has any early advertising, scores, photographs etc. Victoriaedwards (talk) 02:23, 10 January 2010 (UTC)


 * OK. Thanks for the explanation. I think it's important that it's all in the article. At the moment the discrepancy is confusing for the reader who will assume that the synopsis and music numbers are for the same version of the same work. Do you see what I mean? -- Klein zach  15:03, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

I do Victoriaedwards (talk) 16:08, 16 January 2010 (UTC)