Eulenspiegel

Eulenspiegel (lit. "Owl mirror") is a German dramatic farce in one act by August von Kotzebue (1761 – 1819).

The character
The character "Till Eulenspiegel" is a trickster figure originating in Middle Low German folklore - appears in many cultures under a variety of names, in picaresque stories about his adventures in various regions. Known as "Owlglass" in English, "Till l'Espiègle" in French, "Uilenspiegel" in Dutch and "Uilspieël" in Afrikaans for example, and is often used to refer to a jester or buffoon.

The original playtext
A play based on the German folkloric character "Till Eulenspiegel", it was apparently originally written by Von Kotzebue as a libretto for an opera by this name, with music by Ludwig Wilhelm Tepper von Ferguson, and produced by Von Kotzebue in the German Theatre in St Petersburg in 1801 (to no great success).

Possibly reworked as a one-act farce, published in German in Berlin 1807, first performed in this form in the Königliches Schauspielhaus, Berlin in 1806.

Translations and adaptations
Translated into Dutch as Uilenspiegel by Jan Steven van Esveldt Holtrop, and published by J.S. van Esveldt Holtrop, Amsterdam, 1812.

Performance history in South Africa
1819: Announced for performance by Tot Nut en Vermaak in Dutch as Uilenspiegel in the African Theatre, Cape Town on 5 June. However it was postponed, taking place 12 June 1819, as afterpiece to Menschenhaat en Berouw (Von Kotzebue).

1825: Performed in Dutch as Uilenspiegel by Tot Nut en Vermaak on 4 June in De Liefhebbery Toneel, as afterpiece to De Broeders Op Den Toets (Pelletier-Volméranges).

1838: Performed in Stellenbosch in Dutch as Uilenspiegel by Door Yver Vruchtbaar (combined with the Music Association) on 24 October, with Eleonora van Rosalba (Pujos and J. Dabaytua).

1845: Performed in Dutch as Uilenspiegel by the combined company, Het Privaat Hollandsch Tooneellievend Gezelschap playing under the combined motto Tot Nut en Vermaak en Door Yver Vruchtbaar, in the Hope Street Theatre, Cape Town on 3 December, as afterpiece  to Loon der Waarheid (Von Kotzebue).

1847: Performed in Dutch as Uilenspiegel by the combined company, Het Privaat Hollandsch Tooneellievend Gezelschap playing under the combined motto Tot Nut en Vermaak en Door Yver Vruchtbaar, in the Hope Street Theatre, Cape Town on 2 November, as afterpiece  to De Baron van Felsheim, of De Slag by Friedberg (Bernos).

1852: Performed in Dutch as Uilenspiegel by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst in the Bree Street Theatre, Cape Town on 16 September, with De Onechte Dochter (J.P. Meijer).

1867: Produced in Dutch as Uilenspiegel by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst at the Theatre Royal, Cape Town on 26 June, with Het Geheim (Fournier and Arnould, tr De Bruine).

1869: Produced in Dutch as Uilenspiegel at the Odd Fellows’ Hall on 3 February  by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst, with Adelaide van Beyeren  (Tréogate).

1869: The programme of 3 February by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst is repeated on 11 February.

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