View source for Gert Garries – 'n Baaisiekel Babelas

''[[Gert Garries – 'n Baaisiekel Babelas]]'' ("Gert Garries - a bicycle hangover") is a play by [[Pieter Fourie]] (1940-2021)


==The original text==

Based on two characters and a variety of scenes from the controversial yet acclaimed satirical novel ''Magersfontein, O Magersfontein'' by Fourie's mentor and friend [[Etienne Leroux]] (pen name of Stephen le Roux), the idea of a play was planted in Fourie's imagination during a conversation with Leroux shortly before the latter's death in 1989, but only came to fruition in 2002. Billed as "'n Baldadige reaksie op ''Magersfontein, O Magersfontein''!" ("a boisterous response to ''Magersfontein, O Magersfontein''!") the play is a surrealist comedy telling of the travails and triumphs of the "coloured" farm worker Gert Garries and Le Grange, the white policeman. 

It was first performed by [[Rooderandt Produksies]] at the [[KKNK]] in 2002, mostly to good audiences and positive criticism, except in Cape Town where it was not well supported.  

The text was never published. 

== A possible sequel ==


Fourie for a while contemplated a sequel, to be called '''''[[Gert Garries en die Magersfontein Baaiskoup]]''''' ("Gert Garries and the Magersfontein bioscope"), but in view of some negative criticism for the production, he never did.

==Translations and adaptations==

== Performance history in South Africa ==

2002: Produced by [[Rooderandt Produksies]], at the [[KKNK]] in April,  directed by [[Marthinus Basson]] with [[Gaerin Hauptfleisch]] as Assistant director and stage manager. The cast included  [[Anthony Wilson]] and  [[Dawid Minnaar]]. It opened in the [[SANW-ouditorium]] in Oudtshoorn on the 30th of March. 

2002: Performed at the [[Volksblad Fees]] in Bloemfontein in July

2002: Performed at the [[Hermanus Whale Festival]] in Hermanus in September

2002: Performed at the [[Aardklop]] festival in Potchefstroom in October.

2002: Performed at [[Artscape]], Cape Town in October. 
 
2003: Performed at a school reunion of the Hoërskool M.T. Steyn in Phillipolis in April, attended by the author.

== 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 Unpublished doctoral dissertation.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.558-566 [http://etd.uovs.ac.za/ETD-db//theses/available/etd-08102012-152250/unrestricted/LuwesNJ.pdf]

Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

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