Die Ryk Weduwee

Die Ryk Weduwee ("The Rich Widow") is a play by Uys Krige (1910-1987).

The original text

A hugely popular Afrikaans farce about a widow and her many suitors. Winner of the 2nd prize in the Afrikaans section of the 1952 Van Riebeeck Festival national play competition. Published by Afrikaanse Pers-Boekhandel, 1958.

Popular with amateur groups and professionals alike.

Performance history in South Africa

1953: First performed by National Theatre Organisation, directed by Anna Richter-Visser and opening in the Library Theatre in Market Street, before touring the country with 254 performances. The décor was by Kobus Esterhuysen, lighting by Harry Ligoff. The cast: Wena Naudé, Eghard van der Hoven, Daan Retief, Japie van Niekerk, Pikkie van Niekerk, Dawid van der Walt, Etrecia Mocke, Hannes Venter (later replaced by Reenen van Niekerk.

1968: Directed by Laurie van der Merwe for TRUK, with Wilna Snyman (Anna de Kock), Marius Weyers (Etienne Roux), Ernst Eloff (Jan de Kock), Thea Kirstein (Elsabet Roos), Anna Cloete (Christine Vermaak), Louis van Niekerk (Piet Swart), Louw Verwey (Frans de Waal), Hetty van Oordt (Alida de Waal) and James Norval (Pierre Naude). Decor by Bill Smuts and costume by Aubrey Couling.

1974: Done by CAPAB at the Hofmeyr Theatre directed by Sandra Kotzé from 26 September to 12 October, with Louise Mollett-Prinsloo in the lead role with Pierre van Pletzen, Marie Pentz, Anna Cloete, Jan Prinsloo, Mees Xteen, Pieter Geldenhuys, Juanita Swanepoel and Cobus Rossouw as Pierre Naudé. Design by Pieter de Swardt, costumes by Jenny de Swardt

1976: Sandra Kotzé directed another CAPAB production at the Nico Malan Theatre, with Babs Laker as the rich widow, Anna de Kock, and the rest of the cast including Ralph van Pletzen, Nerina Ferreira, Anna Cloete, André Rossouw, Mees Xteen, Pieter Geldenhuys, Liz Dick and Cobus Rossouw. Design by Pieter de Swardt, costumes by Penny Simpson and lighting by John T. Baker. Martin Crous was the stage manager. The following year Dirk de Villiers used the same cast in a film version made for television, but with Sandra Kotzé taking over the title role from Babs Laker.

1977/8: Done in Namibia by SWAPAC**?

1980: Presented by SUKOVS Toneel opening at the Bloemfontein Civic Theatre on 12 August, directed by Sandra Kotzé starring Cobus Rossouw (Pierre Naudé), Ronel Kriel (Elisabet Roos), Antoinette Kellermann (Anna de Kock), Paul Lückhoff (Piet Swart), Lida Meiring (Christine Vermaak), Henry Mylne (Jan de Kock), Nico Liebenberg (Etienne Roux), Johan Brewis (Frans de Waal), Roelien Spruyt (Alida de Waal). Stage management and lighting Jacques Mulder. This production was also staged in Sasolburg, Kroonstad, Welkom, and, in collaboration with CAPAB in Vryburg and Kimberley.

1986: PACT in the State Theatre, Pretoria.

2010 Performed at the KKNK festival in April, directed by with a cast that included Roeline Daneel, Elsabé Daneel, Waldemar Schultz, Susanne Beyers, Antoinette Louw, Lulu Botha and Deon Lotz.

Sources

PACT list, 1972.

Die Ryk Weduwee theatre programmes, 1968 (PACT), 1974 (KRUIK), 1976 (KRUIK), 1980 (SUKOVS).

PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988.

Antoinette Kellerman's annotated performance text for the 1980 SUKOVS production, found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department archives in 2022.

Juanita Swanepoel's annotated performance text for the 1974 KRUIK production, found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department archives in 2022.

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