Das Kind der Liebe

(Literally "The child of love") A German play in five acts by August von Kotzebue.

The original text

Written in 1790 and first performed in the Liebhabertheater in Reval in 1790, possibly under the title: Das Kind der Liebe, oder: Der Strassenräuber aus kindlicher Liebe, cited by Engels (1992). It was first published in Leipzig in 1791 by P.G. Kummer.

The play has become quite famous through an English translation by Elizabeth Inchbald, which features in Jane Austen's novel Mansfield Park.

Translations and adaptations

Dutch: Translated into Dutch as De Onechte Zoon and published in Amsterdam by H. Gartman and co. in 1793. The Dutch version also listed , on occasion, by F.C.L. Bosman (1928) as Aballino, De Onechte Zoon

English: At least four English adaptations of the play were published between 1798 and 1800, under various titles: Lovers' Vows by Elizabeth Inchbald (1798); The Natural Son by Anne Plumptre (1798); Lovers’ Vows; or, The Natural Son by Benjamin Thompson (1800); Lovers’ Vows, or The Child of Love by Stephen Porter (1798). Only Elizabeth Inchbald's version appears to have been performed in that time (Covent Garden, 1798).

Performances in South Africa

Dutch productions

1926: Performed in Dutch as De Onechte Zoon by Tot Nut en Vermaak on 26 August in the African Theatre, Cape Town, with 't Zal laat Worden (J.C. Meijer) as afterpiece. The author of the play is cited in its Afrikaans form, "Meyer", by F.C.L. Bosman (1928, pp.237-8). Another production of the play was [planned for the following week, this time with De Gavaarlyke Buurman (Von Kotzebue) as afterpiece, but there is no proof that it took place.

English productions

Inchbald's version seems to have been the best known, and the only English version of Von Kotzebue's play performed in South Africa during the 19th century. (See Lovers' Vows for details on these productions)