Het Origineele Testament

Het Origineele Testament ("The original will") is a three-act Dutch farce by Melt J. Brink.

The later play is based on a poem of the same title that Brink had written and collected in a manuscript collection in 1865, but there appears to be some uncertainty about the nature of the text - some sources refer to it as a one act play, others a three act farce. Similarly, reports of the first performance of this play seem to be somewhat obscure. According to Bosman (1980) the date of the first performance of the play was on 29 April 1869,in the Germania Hall, Cape Town. Jill Fletcher, however, has the first performed as 29 April 1865, but the error with the year is most probably based on Binge's mention of an original poem by this name, written in 1865 and possibly read as a poem in the following years. According to Binge the poem was only later expanded into the play.

first performed by Aurora on 29 April 1865 in the Germania Hall, Cape Town (according to Fletcher), in April and (again?) on

8 July 1869 (Binge). Published 18**.

A Dutch farce in 3 acts by Melt J. Brink performed by Aurora on 29 April 1869 in the Germania Hall, Cape Town. (

Source: Bosman, F.C.L., Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. 1980, p. 464).

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