There are two Dutch plays by this name which appeared at the start of the 19th century. Both apparently based on a German novel (De Lazaronen in Dutch), though they were possibly (also) influenced by - or even based on - a German "romantic play with music" called Die Lazaroni, which had been performed in the Schaubühne in der Leopoldstadt and published by Matheas Andreas Schmidt in Vienna in 1803. Another German play, Der Lazarone oder Bettler von Neapel, appeared in 1814.

De Graaf Orzano (1808)

The original text

Written by an unknown author, this work was first performed in Amsterdam by a "Toneelminnend Geselschap" ("amateur company") called Uno Animo in 1808, and published in Amsterdam by J.F. Nieman.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

De Graaf Orzano, of De Bedelaar van Napels (1809)

The original text

De Graaf Orzano, of De Bedelaar van Napels ("The Duke of Orzano, or The Beggar of Naples") is a play in five acts by G.J. Vorking ()[]. In his Preface the author is at pains to show that he had not simply copied the earlier play, and had written his own original work based on De Lazaronen. Written specifically for performance by Amsterdam based "Toneelminnend Geselschap" ("amateur company") called Nut en Vermaak in 1809, the text was published in Amsterdam by H. Moolenijzer, 1809