Les Deux Chasseurs et La Laitière

Les Deux Chasseurs et La Laitière is a comic opera (opéra-comique or opéra-bouffon) by Louis Anseaume (1821-1884) and Egidio Duni (1708-1775).

The original text
The play was first presented at the Théâtre-Italien, Hôtel de Bourgogne, on 23 July 1763 and published in Paris the same year.

Translations and adaptations
Translated by J.T. Neyts as De Twee Jagers en het Melk-meysje and printed thus by B.Vlam in Amsterdam in 1770. However, the title is quoted in all later publications as De Twee Jagers en het Melkmeisje, and the alternative spelling has become the norm.

Performance history in South Africa
1803: Performed in French on 10 December in the African Theatre by Het Fransche Liefhebbery Geselschap, with Le Fou Résonnable, ou L'Anglais (Patrat).

1824: Performed in French by Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense in the African Theatre, Cape Town on 29 May, as afterpiece to De Verwarde Schaking (Von Kotzebue).

1835: Performed twice in Cape Town by the children's company Kunst en Smaak as De Twee Jagers en het Melkmeisje with De Kluizenaar op Formentera (Von Kotzebue) as afterpiece. The second performance was on 30 June.

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