Mattewis en Meraai

Mattewis en Meraai is a play by P.G. du Plessis (1934-2017), based on stories by Mikro (1924-1988).

The original text

This is an immensely popular adaptation by Du Plessis, based on two sets of novellas written by Afrikaans novelist Mikro, telling of the lives of "Meraai Botes" and many other colourful inhabitants of the fictional towns of Gonnakolk and Soetwater.

The stories first appeared in various publications, those on Gonnakolk later collated in the volume called Gonnakolk (Voortrekkerpers, 1957).

The Soetwater stories, having been similarly adapted for radio and stage by Bosman de Kock in 1964, were published as Soetwater: Bruidjie Dit en Bruidjie Dot by the DALRO (the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation) in 1967.

Translations and adaptations

To find out more about other adaptations of Mikro's "Soetwater" stories, see for example the entry on Bruidjie Dit en Bruidjie Dot by Bosman de Kock in ESAT.

Performance history in South Africa

1970: Presented by PACT in 1970. Direction by Truida Louw, starring Louis van Niekerk (Mattewis Offer), Annette Engelbrecht (Meraai Botes), Marius Weyers (Die Verteller), Tine Balder (Suffie Barnard), Sandra Prinsloo (Maria Offer), Wilna Snyman ((Maatjie Visser), Don Lamprecht (Dominee Franke), Paul Eilers ((Jannie Gertenbach, Flip Rens), George Ballot (Selons Barnard, Krisjan Theron), Dalene Kotzé (Elisabeth Offer), Elize Hibbert ("Bettie Pretorius"). The technical crew included Jannie Lindeque (company manager), Danny Keogh (stage manager, assisted by Max Curtis and Elise Hattingh) and Chris van den Berg (decor and costumes).

1971: The same PACT production, cast included, visited Durban, Welkom, Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Stellenbosch in 1971.

1978: Presented by CAPAB at the Nico Malan Theatre 10 - 24 June 1978. Directed by Paul Malherbe with Johan Botha as "Mattewis Offer" and Marga van Rooy as Meraai Botes. The rest of the cast were Neels Coetzee {Die Verteller), Sandra Ferreira ("Bettie Pretorius"), Philip Godawa ("Jannie Gertenbach"), Anna Cloete ("Suffie Barnard"), Willem de la Querra ("Selons Barnard"), Lida Botha ("Maatjie Visser"), Marko van der Colff ("Dominee Franke"), Harriet Pienaar ("Maria Offer"), Mary Dreyer ("Elisabeth Offer"), Mees Xteen ("Flip Rens"), Johan Esterhuizen ("Krisjan Theron"). Design by Paul Malherbe, lighting by John T. Baker.

1978: The CAPAB production was seen at the Bellville Civic Centre on 26 June 1978, the Worcester Civic Centre on 27 June 1978 and at the H.B. Thom Theatre from 28 June to 1 July 1978.

1979: PACOFS 1979, directed by Truida Louw with Mees Xteen and Sandra Kotzé.

1982: Directed by William Egan for PACT in the State Theatre in 1982, starring Louis van Niekerk, Annette Engelbrecht, Johan Malherbe, Roelien Spruyt, Nico Liebenberg. Designs by Chris van den Berg.