Corinne und der Seebär

Corinne und der Seebär ("Corinne and the Fur Seal") is a German play by Karl Wittlinger (1922-1994) [1].

The original text

Corinne und der Seebär was originally written as a stage play, opening in the Hannover Landesbühne on 3 September, 1965.

It tells of Corinne, who is fed up with living in a rich family home and is seeking a purpose in life. She meets the young postal clerk Oliver, who has to stamp letters every day in the steerage of a small mail steamer and longs to travel the world as a ship's officer. Meeting Corinne on Ostend's harbor pier inspires Oliver's dreams to take action with far-reaching consequences: He lies to Corinne that he is the helmsman of a ship that is setting out on a world voyage. Corinne enthusiastically follows his suggestion to set up a hiding place for her in the ship's storage room and take her with him on the world trip. The "world trip" takes place in the cloister of the ship's belly...

Translations and adaptations

Adapted as a TV-film, released in Austria and Germany in 1966.

Known as Corinne and the Fur Seal in English.

The stage text translated into Afrikaans by Wilma Stockenström, under the title Corinne en die Pikbroek, a title later changed to Die Paradysboot ("the paradise boat").

Performance history in South Africa

1967: Produced as part of a triple bill TRUK, directed by Robert Mohr, the other two pieces being: Oom Wanja by Anton Chekhov and Uit de oude doos by Melt Brink.