Difference between revisions of "Boetman is die Bliksem in!"

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A play by Pieter Fourie (2000)
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''[[Boetman is die Bliksem in!]]'' ("Laddie is the hell in!") is a documentary drama in [[Afrikaans]] by [[Pieter Fourie]] (1940-2021).
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== The original text ==
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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).
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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.
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== Translations and adaptations ==
  
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== Description ==
 
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''Boetman is die Bliksem in!'', a play by [[Pieter Fourie]], based on a letter to the press by [[Chris Louw]] in reaction to the book ''Afrikaners: kroes, kras, kordaat'' by Willem de Kerk, including the resulting reaction to Louw's letter. Essentially an older generation of Afrikaner leaders was accused of misleading a younger generation of Afrikaner males into fighting and dying for the despicable cause of apartheid. Directed by [[Marthinus Basson]] at [[Aardklop festival|Aardklop]], 2000. Performed at several venues countrywide during 2001.
 
  
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== Background ==
 
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A different dimension of Afrikaner guilt was explored in the docudrama ''Boetman is die Bliksem in!'' [Laddie is the hell in!], developed by dramatist [[Pieter Fourie]] with director [[Marthinus Basson]]. The project’s point of departure was an angry open letter sent by journalist [[Chris Louw]] to prominent academic [[Willem de Klerk]] in response to a book de Klerk had written about the Afrikaners. Louw attacked de Klerk and the older generation of Afrikaner rulers for lying and deceiving the younger Afrikaners and this led to a vigorous debate in the Afrikaans media. Louw’s letter and subsequent book on the subject, together with transcripts of radio and TV interviews, newspaper articles and other documentation of the debate were used as the basis of the stage play. Here were Afrikaner baby-boomers addressing the recent past and attacking the patronising manner in which the apartheid rulers had treated even their own offspring and left them to face the music after the demise of the regime, and to deal with the legacy of the leaders’ racist actions while they could go into comfortable retirement. [Van Heerden (2008)][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
 
  
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
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Directed by [[Marthinus Basson]] for the [[Aardklop National Arts Festival]] in 2000 and later staged at the [[KKNK]] and [[Grahamstown Festival]] and in mainstream theatres.
 
  
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==Translations and adaptations==
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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]].
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2000 Performed by [[Rooderandt Produksies]] in the [[Wynand Mouton Theatre]] in Bloemfontein in October.
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2001: Performed by [[Rooderandt Produksies]] at the  [[KKNK]] in April.
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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.
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2001: Performed 4-7July by [[Rooderandt Produksies]] at the  main festival of the [[Grahamstown Festival|Standard Bank National Arts Festival]].
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2001: Performed 10-21 July by [[Rooderandt Produksies]] in [[The Arena]] at the [[State Theatre]], Pretoria
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2001: Performed 1-2 Augustus by [[Rooderandt Produksies]] in die [[Springs  Civic Theatre]] 
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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 ==
 
== Sources ==
  
  
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Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography|ESAT Bibliography]]
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[[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]
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[[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
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''[[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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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
 
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Latest revision as of 17:34, 13 January 2023

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 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 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. [1]

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[2]. p. 114

Boetman is die bliksem in. Press Release by the Baxter Theatre Centre, 05/17/2001, Artslink.co.za News[3]


Go to ESAT Bibliography

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