Hans Huckebein, der Unglücksrabe

Hans Huckebein, der Unglücksrabe (literally "Hans Huckebein, the Bad Luck Raven" - a German idiomatic saying for an "unlucky or accident prone person") is a German farce ("schwank") in three acts by Oscar Blumenthal (1852-1917)[1] and Gustav Kadelburg (1851–1925)[2]

Also found as Die Dame aus Ostende

Not to be confused with "Hans Huckebein (der Unglücksrabe)"[3] (1867), a famous illustrated children's story in verse by Wilhelm Busch (1832-1908)[4] about a troublesome and luckless raven. However, Busch's work probably suggested the German title for the play.

The original text

First performed in the Staatstheater Stuttgart in 1897 and on 15 May, 1898 in the Hoftheater, Weimar.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into English as Number 9, or The Lady of Ostend by F.C. Burnand. Performed inter alia at Daly's Theatre, New York in December 1897, in London at Terry's Theatre in 1899 and in Australia by Lawrence Brough and company in the same year.

Translated into Dutch as Jan Ongeluk (or Jan Ongeluk!) by Henri van Kuyk. This version first performed by De Nederlandsche Tooneelvereeniging on 30 December 1897.

Adapted and translated into Afrikaans as Die Ongeluksvoël ("The accident-prone person") by H.J.G. Gieseler. Published in Afrikaans by Nasionale Pers Beperk in 1930.

Performance history in South Africa

1906 Performed in Dutch as Jan Ongeluk newly resurrected cultural organization Onze Taal, along with a performance of Een Zenuwachtig Mensch (Heyligers) by the debating society Rust Roest ("rest rusts") assisted some pupils of Eendrachtskool, at the Empress Theatre, Pretoria.

193*: Performed in Afrikaans as Die Ongeluksvoël in Johannesburg by the Sonop Afrikaner Kring, directed by Schalk Theron (1912-2015).