View source for Boetman is die Bliksem in!

''[[Boetman is die Bliksem in!]]'' ("Laddie is the hell in!") is a documentary drama in [[Afrikaans]] by [[Pieter Fourie]] (1940-2021).

== The original text ==

The play is based on a letter to the press written by [[SABC]] journalist [[Chris Louw]] (1953–2009) in reaction to the book ''Afrikaners: kroes, kras, kordaat'' by Willem de Kerk, including the resulting reaction to Louw's letter, which was a scathing attack on the power-hungry ''ooms'' ("uncles")  of [[Apartheid]] era, who had mislead and lied to the younger generation of [[Afrikaner]] males and sent them to fight and die for a despicable cause. Louw’s original letter, transcripts of radio and TV interviews, newspaper articles and other documentation of the debate were all used as the basis of the stage play. Louw would soon after publish a book dealing with the whole matter entitled ''Boetman en die swanesang van die verligtes'' (Cape Town: Human en Rousseau, 2001).

The play was a sensational hit, the first performances in September 2000 being sold out three weeks in advance and received standing ovations at every performance, while those at the [[Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees]] ([[KKNK]])in April 2001 were even traded on the black market. It also went abroad. The production won two [[Vita Awards|FNB Vita awards]], one for the Best New Afrikaans Play and one for the Best Production.

== Translations and adaptations ==



== Performance history in South Africa ==

2000: Performed at the  [[Aardklop]] National Arts Festival in September by [[Rooderandt Produksies]], directed by [[Marthinus Basson]] with [[Dawid Minnaar]], [[Cobus Rossouw]], [[Sandra Kotzé]] and [[Albert Snyman]]. 

2000 Performed by [[Rooderandt Produksies]] in the [[Wynand Mouton Theatre]] in Bloemfontein in October. 

2001: Performed by [[Rooderandt Produksies]] at the  [[KKNK]] in April. 

2001: Performed at the [[Baxter Theatre Centre]]'s Main Theatre from 12 to 16 June, and at the [[Baxter Concert Hall]] from 21 to 30 June. 

2001: Performed 4-7July by [[Rooderandt Produksies]] at the  main festival of the [[Grahamstown Festival|Standard Bank National Arts Festival]]. 

2001: Performed 10-21 July by [[Rooderandt Produksies]] in [[The Arena]] at the [[State Theatre]], Pretoria 

2001: Performed 1-2 Augustus by [[Rooderandt Produksies]] in die [[Springs  Civic Theatre]]  

2001: The play was apparently to have been taken on tour of the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands in August, but the unavailability of the cast made that impossible.

== Sources ==


[[Nico Luwes]] 2010. ''[[Pieter Fourie]] (1940-) se bydrae as Afrikaanse dramaturg en kunsbestuurder: 1965-2010''. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Bloemfontein: University of the Free State, pp. [http://etd.uovs.ac.za/ETD-db//theses/available/etd-08102012-152250/unrestricted/LuwesNJ.pdf]

[[Johann van Heerden]]. 2008. ''Theatre in a New Democracy. Some major trends in South African theatre from 1994 to 2003'', Unpublished PhD dissertation, [[University of Stellenbosch]][http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.sun.ac.za%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10019.1%2F1443%2Fvanheerden_theatre_2008.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1&ei=_egBU77CNYWJhQeE5oCADQ&usg=AFQjCNEWnD1BzeLnFmOV2tvyGLoMyNeT6Q&bvm=bv.61535280,d.Yms]. p. 114

''[[Boetman is die bliksem]]'' in. Press Release by the [[Baxter Theatre Centre]], 05/17/2001, [[Artslink]].co.za News[http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=14965]


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