Der Papagoy

Der Papagoy ("The Parrot") is a play in three acts by August von Kotzebue (1761 – 1819)[1].

Original text

Published in Leipzig, 1792.

Translations and adaptations

In 1786 a Dutch comedy appeared in Haarlem under the title De Papegaay, verrader en ondershouwt; of het gemaakte komplot by an unknown author. The text has a number of language errors, presumably including the misspelling of the Dutch word Papegaai.

In 1792 a Dutch translation of Von Kotzebue's Der Papagoy was published in Amsterdam under the title De Papegaai ("The Parrot"). This was produced in South Africa under two misspelled titles, De Papegaay and Die Papegay.

Performances in South Africa

1803: Performed in Dutch by Tot Leering en Vermaak ("For Instruction and Amusement") on 5 March in the African Theatre. There is some uncertainty about the spelling since F.C.L. Bosman, who quotes an advert from the Kaapsche Courant on 26 February, 1803, has it as De Papegaay, while Jill Fletcher, also citing the Kaapsche Courant, but from 5 March 1803, has the (unlikely) title Die Papegay). The performance was part of the week-long celebrations surrounding the installation of J.W. Janssens as Governor of the Cape on 1 March 1803 of that day under the heading "Tot Lering en Vermaak" ["For Instruction and Amusement"]. This play by the master of melodrama was advertised as part of the celebrations surrounding the installation of Governor J.W. Janssens, 5 March 1803. It appeared in the Kaapse Stads Courant of that day under the heading "Tot Lering en Vermaak" ["For Instruction and Amusement"]

1825: Performed in Dutch under the title De Papegaai (alternatively De Papegaay according to Bosman, 1928: p. 293) by Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense on 24 September, with Het Huwelyk van Jocrisse (Guillemain/Fallée)