Der Deserteur

Der Deserteur ("The deserter") is a German comedy in one act by August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue (1761-1819)[1].

Not to be confused with the French play Le Deserteur, by Louis Sébastien Mercier (1740 – 1814).

The original text

Possibly performed in 1806 or 1807, published by Bolling, 1808

Translated into Dutch as De Deserteur by Jan Steven van Esveldt Holtrop[2]. Published in Amsterdam by J.S. van Esveldt-Holtrop, 1807.

1818: Performed in Dutch in Cape Town by Tot Nut en Vermaak on 2 December, 1818, with De Goedhartige Losbol (Anon.) as afterpiece.

1822: Performed in Dutch in the African Theatre, Cape Town by Tot Nut en Vermaak, as afterpiece to Volsan, of De Menschenhater Door Tegenspoed (Villenhoven). Originally announced for 21 September, but postponed to 24 September.

1836: Performed in Dutch by Tot Nut en Vermaak on 28 October in De Liefhebbery Toneel, Cape Town, as afterpiece to Dertig Jaren, of Het Leven van een Dobbelaar (Ducange and Dinaux).

1849: Performed in Dutch by Tot Oefening en Vermaak on 23 August in the Hoopstraat-Skouburg (Hope Street Theatre) in Cape Town, with as afterpiece to Dirk Meschenschrik (Holberg).

1851: Performed in Dutch by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst on 26 June in the Drury Lane Theatre, Cape Town, as afterpiece to De Kluizenaar op het Eiland Formentera (Von Kotzebue).

1855: Performed in Dutch by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst in Cape Town in the Garrison Theatre on 26 April as an afterpiece to Hariadan Barbarossa, of Het Beleg van Reggio (Lamarque de Saint-Victor and Corsse/Fallée). These were offered as benefit performances for those affected by the Crimean War (See Balaclava Benefit Performances).