Il Re Cervo

Il Re Cervo (The King Stag or The Stag King) is a 1762 play by Italian playwright Carlo Gozzi (1720-1806). The magical tale brings to life King Deramo, the faithful Angela who loves him, his treacherous prime minister Tartaglia, several hare-brained members of his court, a magician, a parrot, magical stags, and a giant bear. It's a fairy tale for all ages, a story of love and betrayal, intrigue and mirth, magic spells and pageantry. It is a fantastical and at times satirical look at the destructive vices of ambition, jealousy, and lust, and the power of true love to transform and transcend them all. And like all good fairy tales, "The King Stag" is not only about enchantment. It's also enchanting.

Translations and adaptations
Translated from an English translation into Afrikaans as Die Hertekoning by Alwyn Swart.

Performance history in South Africa
Alwyn Swart directed his own Afrikaans translation/adaptation Die Hertekoning for PACT, with Laurence Lurie (Papegaai), Kritch Krook (Cigolotti), Esther van Rensburg (Smeraldina), Ronny Belcher (Brighella), Johan Engelbrecht (Truffaldino), Peter Terry (Pantaloon), Johan Blignaut (Tartaglia), Celia Barnard (Clarissa), Richard Carlsson (Leander), Joan Metlerkamp (Angela) and Richard van der Westhuizen (Deramo).

Presented by CAPAB English Drama Company Children's Theatre at the Hofmeyr Theatre in 1974 starring Marion Achber.

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