Das Geheimnis

A German play in five acts by Christian August Vulpius (1762 – 1827).

The original text

Presumably first performed at the Hoftheater, in Leipzig in 1800, and published in Leipzig in 1800. It is not often cited among his better works.

(Confusingly: Vulpius also produced the French one-act opera Le Secret (Hoffman and Solié, 1796), under the title Das Geheimnis the Hoftheater, in Leipzig in 1805.)

Translations and adaptations

Translated into English as The Mystery by M. Geisweiler c. 1800.

Translated into Dutch as Het Geheim by an unknown author.

Performances in South Africa

1855: Performed as Het Geheim on Tuesday 12 June by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst in the Garrison Theatre, Cape Town. It was stipulated as a tragedy in five acts and credited to "the author of Rinaldini" (i.e. Vulpius). Also performed were De Helleveeg (Loosjes) and Het Groot Ballet. The evening was in support of the "Patriotic Fund" for the Crimean War. The production was possibly repeated on 28 June.

The Vulpius play may also have been produced by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst in 1865 and 1910, though it may have been Un Secret by Fournier and Arnould.