Niet of Graag

Niet of Graag ("Not or please") is a Dutch comedy in one act by an anonymous author, based on an unnamed Danish work by H.C. Andersen (1805-1875)[1], .

The title is apparently inverted sometimes, to become Graag of Niet.

The original text

Telling the story of two men married to the same woman, it is based on an unnamed Danish work by by H.C. Andersen (1805-1875)[2]. Freely adapted and prepared for use by the Rederijkers by an anonymous author, it was published in Purmerende by J. Schuitemaker, 1863.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1867: Performed in Dutch as Niet of Graag by Aurora II in the Germania Liedertafel, Cape Town, as an afterpiece to Hambroek (Nomsz) on 5 September.

1867: Performed in Dutch as Niet of Graag by Aurora II in the Germania Liedertafel, Cape Town,with Lodewijk XI (Delavigne/Schimmel) and Tante Trui (Arnold) on 3 October.

1868: Performed by Aurora II in Paarl some time in July , as an afterpiece to H.W. Teengs's locally written Dutch play Willem Nel.

1868: Performed by Aurora II in the Germania Hall, Cape Town on 28 July , as an afterpiece to H.W. Teengs's locally written Dutch play Willem Nel.

1879: Performed in Dutch as Niet of Graag by Aurora II, on 10 Julie in the Athenaeum Hall, with De Geduchte Rechtbank (Lamartelière).

1879: Performed in Dutch as Niet of Graag by Aurora II, on 16 September in the Athenaeum Hall, withDe Gebochelde, of De Moord in de Slotgracht van Tayhis (Regland).

1910: According to Bosman (1980), it was performed by Aurora III in Dutch (but now called Graag of Niet) in the ANV Saal, Cape Town, on 4 October.

1911: Performed by Aurora III in Dutch (again called Graag of Niet by Bosman) in the ANV Saal, Cape Town, on 4 April.