View source for Mirakel

''[[Mirakel]]'' ("miracle") is by a  play [[Reza de Wet]] (1952-2012). 

== The original text ==

A magical-realist work about a touring theatre company led by "Dante du Pré" (or simply "Du Pre" in the English version) , a character loosely based on legendary [[Afrikaans]] actor-manager [[André Huguenet]], who perform the medieval "morality  play"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morality_play]  ''[[Elkeman]]'' (i.e. ''[[Everyman]]'') in an abandoned Roman Catholic church in a rural town, and the miraculous consequences of this event on the lives of the performers. (Du Pré wrongly refers to ''[[Elkeman]]'' as a "mystery play"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_play] - also known as a "miracle play" - hence the title of De Wet's work). 

First published by  [[HAUM Literêr]] as part of a trilogy entitled ''[[Trits: Mis - Mirakel - Drif]]'' (1993). The collection won De Wet the [[Hertzogprys|Hertzog Prize]] for Drama in 1993.

==Translations and adaptations==

Translated into English as '''''[[Miracle]]''''' by [[Reza de Wet]] and [[Steven Stead]] and published by Oberon Books in ''[[Plays One]]'' by [[Reza de Wet]] (also containing ''[[Mis|Missing]]'' and ''[[Drif|Crossing]]'') in 2000.

== Performance history in South Africa ==

1992: Performed at the [[National Arts Festival]], directed by [[Stephan Bouwer]] with [[Patrick Mynhardt]], [[Annelisa Weiland]], [[Dawid Minnaar]], [[Anna-Mart van der Merwe]], [[Frantz Dobrowsky]] and [[Lerina Erasmus]]. Stage manager [[Anna Carrilho]], Lighting [[Michael Carklin]], Set design by [[John Porter]]. This production was repeated in the [[Momentum Theatre]], Pretoria and the [[Amphitheatre]] of the [[University of the Witwatersrand]] and at the [[Market Theatre]] with [[Frantz Dobrovsky]], [[Annelise Weinand]], [[Dawid Minnaar]].

1994: Staged by [[CAPAB]] in February 1994 in the [[Arena Theatre]] at the [[Nico Malan Theatre]], directed by [[Marthinus Basson]] with [[Mary Dreyer]] (Winner [[Fleur du Cap Award]] for Best Supporting Actress), [[Louw Verwey]], [[Sandra Temmingh]], [[Jan Ellis]], [[Neels Coetzee]], [[Mary Dreyer]] and [[Michelle Scott]].  Design by [[Peter Cazalet]], lighting by [[Malcolm Hurrell]], music by [[Stefan Temmingh]].

1996: Scenes from the play were performed by seven final year [[University of Stellenbosch]] drama students in the [[Kellerteater]] at the University, directed by lecturer [[Shirley Johnston]], with a cast including [[Paul du Toit]], [[Angerie van Wyk]], [[Martelize Kolver]], [[Leanna Dreyer]], [[Nicole Holm ]], [[Amelda Brand]] and [[Nico Dreyer]].   Set design and lighting by [[Kobus Rossouw]]. In a rare exchange, the production was also performed for and debated by the [[UCT]] drama staff and students, in the Drama Department of the [[University of Cape Town]]. 

200? Staged in [[Afrikaans]] by [[University of Stellenbosch]] students in the [[H.B. Thom Theatre]], Stellenbosch on 18 and 19 November,  directed by [[Marthinus Basson]], with a cast that included [[Stian Bam]],

2010:  ''[[Miracle]]'' performed in English (in [[Steven Stead]]’s translation) by [[KickstArt]] in the [[Square Space Theatre]] at the [[University of KwaZulu-Natal]] in June.   

2013 Staged in [[Afrikaans]] by [[University of Cape Town]] students, directed by [[Sandra Temmingh]], [[Arena Theatre]] Cape Town

2023: Staged by [[KKNK]] and [[NATi]] at the [[KKNK]], [[Suidoosterfees]], [[Innibos]], [[Vrystaat Kunstefees]], [[Aardklop]] and [[Woordfees]], directed by [[Marthinus Basson]] with [[Dawid Minnaar]], [[Bettie Kemp]], [[Rolanda Marais]], [[Eben Genis]], [[Edwin van der Walt]] and [[Carla Smith]].  Set and Costume design by [[Marthinus Basson]], lighting design and stage manager [[Nicolaas de Jongh]] and assistant stage manager [[Philip Theron]]. Produced by [[Hugo Theart]] on behalf of the [[KKNK]].

== International performances ==

2002: Performed as ''[[Miracle]]'' at the White Barn Theatre, Westport, Connecticut in July. 

2009: Performed in Holborn, London, in December, with Susannah York as Salome. 

2010: Performed at the Leicester Square Theatre in January 2010 with the same cast. 

2011: Performed at the Hen and Chicken Theatre in Islington, 23rd August – 3rd September.

== Sources ==

1992 [[National Arts Festival]] Souvenir Programme, p. 65.

[[Ruphin Coudyzer]]. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of [[Market Theatre]] productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)

Review by [[Andrea Vinassa]] in ''[[Vrye Weekblad]]'', 31 July 1992.

''[[Mirakel]]'' theatre programme ([[CAPAB]]), 1994.

''[[Cape Argus]]'' 4 February 1994.

Text of ''[[Mirakel]]'' in ''[[Trits: Mis - Mirakel - Drif]]'' (Pretoria, [[HAUM Literêr]]: 1993).

[[Gordon Dickerson]]. 2018. Personal correspondence with [[Temple Hauptfleisch]]. 

Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

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