Miß Fanny, oder Der Schiffbruch

Miß Fanny, oder Der Schiffbruch ("Miss Fanny or the shipwreck") is a German tragedy in five acts by Johann Christian Brandes (1735-1799)[1]

The original text

Originally written and published in 1766 as Miß Fanny, oder Der Schiffbruch.

Also appeared under the title Der Schiffbruch ("The Shipwreck") (e.g. in 1791).

Translations and adaptations

According to F.C.L. Bosman (1928) this may possibly have been the source for a Dutch version called De Schipbreuk, of De Korsaren op het Eiland Ivica, billed as a three-act "ballet" with music. He also suggests that the latter was in turn adapted and translated into English as a "Ballet" entitled The Shipwreck.

In later years the piece was billed simply as De Schipbreuk , though then possibly played as a musical play rather than a "ballet".

Performance history in South Africa

1810: De Schipbreuk, of De Korsaren op het Eiland Ivica (unattributed) was performed as a ballet in three acts in the African Theatre, Cape Town by "een gezelschap van jonge toneel- en dansliefhebbers" ("a young company of theatre and dance lovers") as a charity event on 18 and 25 August. The group was possibly related to (or the same as) one working with the French company active in Cape Town at the time. The performance itself was described by one viewer (the traveler James Prior , 1820), as "a medley of tragedy, comedy, farce, pantomime and dance". (He gives the title as The Shipwreck.)

1815: A "Ballet" entitled The Shipwreck (now attributed to Brandes) was presented, as an afterpiece to The Padlock (Bickerstaffe), was done by Mr Cuerton and his company in the African Theatre, Cape Town, on 27 May.

1869: Performed as a play called De Schipbreuk (and attributed to J.C. Brandes) by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst with De Helleveeg (Loosjes) in the Odd Fellows' Hall on 5 April. Also given was a ballet performance by 18 chidren.

1870: Performed again a few times by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst in early May, the venue this time being De Rondehuis (The Roundhouse) in Camps Bay, Cape Town.