Der Stumme

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

The original text

Published in 1808.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into Dutch as De Spraaklooze (lit "The speechless one, the tongue-tied one", or "the mute") by Jan Steven van Esveldt Holtrop and published in 1807.

Found as De Spraakloze or De Spraakelooze in some sources, e.g. in Bosman (1928: p. 254).

Performance history in South Africa

1818: Produced in Dutch as De Spraaklooze by the amateur company Tot Nut en Vermaak on 12 September in their own theatre, as afterpiece to De Jonge Filosoof, of De Grilligheden van de Fortuin (Tréogate).

1823: Produced in Dutch as De Spraakloze (according to Bosman, 1928), by the amateur company Tot Nut en Vermaak on 7 June in the African Theatre, as afterpiece to Haat en Liefde (Von Bonin).

1834: Performed in Dutch as De Spraakelooze (according to Bosman, 1928) by Door Yver Vruchtbaar on 31 May in the "Liefhebbery Tooneel - Amateur Theatre", Stellenbosch, with De Onechte Zoon (Von Kotzebue).

1849: Performed in Dutch as De Spraaklooze by Tot Oefening en Vermaak on 23 July in the Hoopstraat-Skouburg (Hope Street Theatre) in Cape Town, as afterpiece to Claudine (Van Der Willigen) and followed by Getrouw tot in den Dood (Westerman).