The Royal Vagabond is described as "A Cohanized Opera Comique in Three Acts." The music is by Wm. Cary Duncan, Dr. Anselm Goetzl and George M. Cohan, the book and lyrics by Stephen Ivor Szinnyey and Wm. Cary Duncan. It was first performed at the Cohan and Harris Theatre, New York, on 17 February 1919.

Dramatis Personæ

MIDI Files

• Overture

ACT I   -   At the King's Head Inn, Bargravia.

• No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "Tra, la, la, la, tra, la, la, la, the villagers sing tra-la-la-la in ev'ry comic opera..."
• No. 2 - Song - Anitza and Chorus - "I have a sweetheart, tenderly love he confessed..."
• No. 3 - Soldier Chorus - "Here come the soldiers, with a rum-tum-tum-tum-tum!  Here come the soldiers..."
• No. 4 - Song - Prince and Chorus - "The day is past of the monarch proud, who rules like slaves the servile crowd..."
• No. 5 - Trio - Petroff, Helena and Anitza - "Tho' you are a princess with castles and lands, a humble courtier I..."
• No. 6 - Finale Act I - "Goodbye, Autocracy;  Come in, Democracy;  The latch-string is swinging for you..."

ACT II   -   In the Royal Palace Courtyard.

• No. 7 - Opening Act II - "We are here to guard the royal crowd, we're regular comic op'ra soldiers..."
• No. 8 - Duet - Helena, Page and Chorus - "Oh Royalty, you know such blisses, visions fair of royal charms..."
• No. 9 - Quartett - Wanda, Josette, Prince and Hopkins - "A girlie shouldn't know too much, now should she? ..."
• No. 10 - "Messenger" song - Violetta and Chorus - "Nobles should write with discretion, when there's a message to send..."
• No. 10a - Dance
• No. 11 - Ensemble - Helena and Petroff - "To a kingdom, to a kingdom, to a kingdom of our own..."
• No. 12 - Song - Anitza - "Love is love in ermine or tatters, dear; love is love and nothing else matters, dear..."
• No. 13 - Finale Act II - "We're here to fight the royal crowd..."

ACT III   -   In the Throne Room.

• No. 14 - Entr'acte
• No. 15a - Opening Sequence - "Fair garlands of roses we strew in your way, as vows of devotion we're singing..."
• No. 15b - Coronation Rehearsal
• No. 16 - "Goodbye Bargravia" - "Goodbye it really means, dear, to childhood scenes, dear, on Bargravia's shore..."
• No. 17 - Duet - Antiza and Prince - "Tho' you are a princess with castles and lands, a humble courtier I.  Yet love is love..."
• No. 18 - Finale Ultimo - "Goodbye, Bargravia, wonderful fairy land, all of your hills so grand, mounted by nature's hand..."

Nos. 1, 3, 11 and 16 were composed by George M. Cohan.
Nos. 14, 15b and 17 were composed by Dr. Anselm Goetzl, who also compiled the Overture.
Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12 and 15a are attributed to both Wm. Cary Duncan and Dr. Anselm Goetzl.
Nos. 7, 8, 10, 13 and 18 are attributed to both George M. Cohan and Dr. Anselm Goetzl.

MIDI Files

American Musical Theatre

Page modified 9 May 2017