Difference between revisions of "Bacchus in die Boland"

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''[[Bacchus in die Boland]]'' ("Bacchus in the Boland") is a play by [[Bartho Smit]]. A highly adapted and localized version of the [[Euripides]]'s ''[[The Bacchae]]''. A popular comic political satire in which the autocratic (white) wine farmer and his (coloured) foreman switch roles under the influence of Bacchus.  
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''[[Bacchus in die Boland]]'' ("Bacchus in the Boland") is a play by [[Bartho Smit]] (1924–1986).
  
 
== Original text ==
 
== Original text ==
Published by Perskor in 1974.
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The play was commissioned by the [[Oude Libertas]] Foundation as part of the [[Cape Festival]] of 1975. 
 +
 
 +
A political satire, the play is an extensively localized adaptation of the [[Euripides]]'s ''[[The Bacchae]]'', set in the Cape winelands (the "Boland") during the Apartheid years. In the play the autocratic (white) wine farmer and his ([[coloured]]) foreman switch roles under the influence of Bacchus (or Dionysos[]), the Greek god of the grape-harvest, winemaking and wine, fertility, ritual madness, religious ecstasy and theatre, who arrives on the farm to become a character in the play.
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Its first production was to have opened in the [[Nico Malan Theatre]] on 11 April 1975, but was cancelled by [[CAPAB]] two days before opening and replaced by ''[[Faan se Trein]]'' ([[Pieter Fourie|Fourie]]).
 +
 
 +
The text was published by [[Perskor]] in 1974.
  
 
==Performance history in South Africa ==
 
==Performance history in South Africa ==
1975: A first production by [[CAPAB]] cancelled two days before opening in the [[Nico Malan Theatre]] on 11 April 1975, substituted with ''[[Faan se Trein]]''.
 
  
1976: The first "coloured" version of it was done by [[EPAC]] in 1976, directed by [[Hannes Horne]] and featuring [[Paul Jacobs]].      
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1975: A first production by [[CAPAB]] scheduled in the [[Nico Malan Theatre]] for 11 April 1975, but cancelled two days before opening and replaced by ''[[Faan se Trein]]'' ([[Pieter Fourie|Fourie]]).  
  
1978: Presented by [[Die Geselskap]] ([[The Company]]) at the [[Market Theatre]], directed by [[Hannes Horne]], from March to April.
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1976: The first production of the play - a so-called all "[[coloured]]" version of it - was done in their Pretoria theatre by the [[Eersterus Performing Arts Council]] ([[EPAC]]) in 1976, directed by [[Hannes Horne]].  ([[Erika Terblanche]] gives the date as July 1977 in her biography of Bartho Smit in [[LitNet]].)     
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1978: The [[EPAC]] production was revived and presented by [[Die Geselskap]] ([[The Company]]) in  the main theatre of the [[Market Theatre]], Johannesburg, from March to April. Once again directed by [[Hannes Horne]], the large cast (basically the cast of original production in Pretoria) consisted of [[Patrick Appel]], [[Colleen Demas]], [[Roderick Demas]], [[Ulrich du Pont]], [[Dorothy Feldman]], [[Tunisia Fortuin]], [[Stanley Geldenhuis]], [[Paul Jacobs]], [[Rodney Jordaan]], [[Elleraine Luciou]], [[Graham Mason]], [[Cleone Poole]], [[Leonard Tellie]], [[Anthony Wilson]] and [[James Winckler]]. [[Melvin Schutte]] was the stage manager.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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W.F. van Rooyen. 1984. "1974-1984" In: [[Chris Barnard]]. 1984. ''Bartho. By geleentheid van sy sestigste verjaardag'' Johannesburg: [[Perskor]].
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[[Pat Schwartz]] 1988. ''The Best of Company: The Story of Johannesburg's [[Market Theatre]]''. Johannesburg: Ad Donker: p. 231.
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Theatre programme (1978 production) held by [[NELM]]: [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 4. 3.
 
Theatre programme (1978 production) held by [[NELM]]: [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 4. 3.
  
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[[Erika Terblanche]]. 2018. "[[Bartho Smit]] (1924–1987)" [[ATKV|LitNet-Skrywersalbum]][https://www.litnet.co.za/bartho-smit-1924-1987/]
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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== Return to ==
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Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
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Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]
  
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Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 B|B]] in Plays 1 Original SA Plays
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Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 2 B|B]] in Plays 2 Foreign Plays
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Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
  
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
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Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 06:25, 5 May 2023

Bacchus in die Boland ("Bacchus in the Boland") is a play by Bartho Smit (1924–1986).

Original text

The play was commissioned by the Oude Libertas Foundation as part of the Cape Festival of 1975.

A political satire, the play is an extensively localized adaptation of the Euripides's The Bacchae, set in the Cape winelands (the "Boland") during the Apartheid years. In the play the autocratic (white) wine farmer and his (coloured) foreman switch roles under the influence of Bacchus (or Dionysos[]), the Greek god of the grape-harvest, winemaking and wine, fertility, ritual madness, religious ecstasy and theatre, who arrives on the farm to become a character in the play.

Its first production was to have opened in the Nico Malan Theatre on 11 April 1975, but was cancelled by CAPAB two days before opening and replaced by Faan se Trein (Fourie).

The text was published by Perskor in 1974.

Performance history in South Africa

1975: A first production by CAPAB scheduled in the Nico Malan Theatre for 11 April 1975, but cancelled two days before opening and replaced by Faan se Trein (Fourie).

1976: The first production of the play - a so-called all "coloured" version of it - was done in their Pretoria theatre by the Eersterus Performing Arts Council (EPAC) in 1976, directed by Hannes Horne. (Erika Terblanche gives the date as July 1977 in her biography of Bartho Smit in LitNet.)

1978: The EPAC production was revived and presented by Die Geselskap (The Company) in the main theatre of the Market Theatre, Johannesburg, from March to April. Once again directed by Hannes Horne, the large cast (basically the cast of original production in Pretoria) consisted of Patrick Appel, Colleen Demas, Roderick Demas, Ulrich du Pont, Dorothy Feldman, Tunisia Fortuin, Stanley Geldenhuis, Paul Jacobs, Rodney Jordaan, Elleraine Luciou, Graham Mason, Cleone Poole, Leonard Tellie, Anthony Wilson and James Winckler. Melvin Schutte was the stage manager.

Sources

W.F. van Rooyen. 1984. "1974-1984" In: Chris Barnard. 1984. Bartho. By geleentheid van sy sestigste verjaardag Johannesburg: Perskor.

Pat Schwartz 1988. The Best of Company: The Story of Johannesburg's Market Theatre. Johannesburg: Ad Donker: p. 231.

Theatre programme (1978 production) held by NELM: [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 4. 3.

Erika Terblanche. 2018. "Bartho Smit (1924–1987)" LitNet-Skrywersalbum[1]

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page