Die Drie Van Der Walts

Die Drie Van Der Walts ("The Three Van Der Walts") is an enormously popular Afrikaans four-act farce about mistaken identies, written by E.A. Schlengemann (1904-1930). Originally written in four acts, the play has been staged in two, three or four acts.

Written in 19**, first published by De Bussy in 1932. Published by J.L. van Schaik Publishers in 1970.

The original text

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1932: Performed by the Graaff-Reinet Teacher's Training College under the direction of Hendrik Momberg.

1933: Performed by the Worcesterse Kultuurvereniging, directed by Leoni Pienaar.

The first professional production was by ** in 19**.

1969: Staged by PACT, directed by François Swart, featuring Carel Trichardt (Oom Gert van Draad), Katinka Heyns (Annie van Draad), Don Lamprecht (Jan Potgieter), Petru Wessels (Mev van der Walt), Marius Weyers (Frederik van der Walt), Louis van Niekerk (Ferdinand van der Walt), Sandra Prinsloo (Sofie Myburgh), William Egan (Mnr Spence), Schalk Jacobsz (Dr Pilsen) and Stephan Bouwer (Job). Décor by David Lister and costumes by Patricia Slavin. Opened in the Breytenbach Theatre on 27 February.

1970: Presented by PACOFS, directed by Franz Marx, starring Louise Mollett-Prinsloo,Jan Prinsloo, Johan Botha,Annie Basson,Neels Coetzee, William Egan, Gretchen Holzapfel and Bromley Cawood.

1979: Staged by PACT, directed by François Swart, featuring Louis van Niekerk (Oom Gert van Draad), Trudi Lamprecht (Annie van Draad), Pierre van Pletzen (Jan Potgieter), Wilna Snyman (Mev van der Walt), Errol Ross (Frederik van der Walt), Don Lamprecht (Ferdinand van der Walt), Rika Sennett (Sofie Myburgh), William Egan (Mnr Spence), David van der Merwe (Dr Pilsen), Gerben Kamper (Job) and others. Décor and costumes by Johan Engels and lighting by Martin Pelser.

1980: Staged by PACT, directed by François Swart, with the same cast as the 1979 production, except for Nigel Vermaas as Oom Gert van Draad, Annette Engelbrecht as Mev van der Walt and Eric Nobbs as Dr Pilsen.

1980: In commemoration of Schlengemann’s 75th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his death, a production was staged by SWAPAC in South-West Africa, directed by Hannes Horne. An exhibition on Schlengemann’s life was opened by Anna Neethling-Pohl in Windhoek.

1982, Presented by PACOFS, directed by Henry Mylne, starring Louw Verwey, Christine Basson, Marko van der Colff, Nico Luwes and others. Decor by Johan Badenhorst, costumes by James Parker.

1986: Presented by PEAAT at the renovated Port Elizabeth Opera House in March.

1989: Staged in The Playhouse in Somerset West by the Hottentots Holland Dramatic Society, directed by Rozelle Edwards, with Bernard Lewarne (Oom Gert van Draad), Henriette du Toit (Annie van Draad), Nico van der Walt (Jan Potgieter), Jana Forrester (Mev van der Walt), Wimpie Pretorius (Frederik van der Walt), Adriaan van Zyl (Ferdinand van der Walt), Rina Louw (Sophie Myburgh) and Johan Laten (Mnr Spence).