Magrita Prinslo, of Liifde getrou tot in di dood

Magrita Prinslo, of Liifde getrou tot in di dood (“Magrita Prinslo, or Love constant unto death”) is a Cape Dutch play in five acts or thirteen scenes by S.J. du Toit (1847-1911).

The original text

Subtitled " 'n historise toneelstuk uit di tyd fan di grote trek" ("a historical play from the time of the great trek"), it is a romantic melodrama telling the story of two lovers separated by the Great Trek, but reunited at the end. The first full-length play published in Afrikaans it had a strong influence on later historical playwriting.

The original text published by ** in 189*.

Translations and adaptations

The play was later significantly revised, extended, and adapted for performance by S.P.E. Boshoff under the title Magrieta Prinsloo (1917), in which form it was often performed by amateurs and professionals alike for Afrikaner cultural and nationalist festivals. The adaptation was first published by the Paarl Drukpers in 1917.

Performance history in South Africa

1897: The original text first performed in the Paarl Town Hall on 27 and 28 January 1897, as part of the Tweede Afrikaanse Taalkongres ("Second Afrikaans Language Congress") in the Paarl Town Hall. A cast of 20, made up of delegates to the conference, apparently played to a full house.

1922: The adapted version, Magrieta Prinsloo performed in Beaufort West by amateurs directed by Hendrik Hanekom with a cast that included Mathilde Hanekom and Matthys de Beer.