Ons Hou Konsert

Ons Hou Konsert ("We Present a Concert/Revue") is a sketch using various one-act farces by Melt Brink and a linking text, compiled by Robert Mohr.

Sometimes also referred to as Kom Ons Hou Konsert ("Come, Let Us Present a Concert/Revue")

It was followed by a second compilation, Ons Hou Konsert II, in 1983.

The original text

A frothy concoction of the early Brink plays, based on the format of a village charity revue-concert, with the plays as "items", it was created in 1967 by Robert Mohr, using three classic Melt Brink farces (Die Egskeiding, Bij die Tande-dokter and O, die Muise of Stemreg vir Vrouwe) and writing a linking text about the small rural town's attempts to perform a "concert" in celebration of the arrival of electricity in the town. The text was published in 1973 by DALRO, in its performance text series.

In later versions other one act plays were used. For example in the 1989 student production of the original Mohr text, director Johann Nell replaced Die Egskeiding with Maljan onder die Hoenders and in the 1999 celebration by CAPAB Johan Esterhuizen used only two of the original plays, cutting Bij die Tande-dokter. The name of the twon also varied from production to production.

In 1983 Mohr himself compiled another second set of Melt Brink plays, using Gestrafte Nieuwsgierigheid, Die Kwaaie Huishoudster and Die Weddenskap and called the follow up Ons Hou Konsert II.

South African productions

1967: Ons Hou Konsert first produced by Robert Mohr for CAPAB. It opened at the Hofmeyr Theatre on 13 October. The cast included Nerina Ferreira, who was nominated for the Three Leaf award as the best female lead.

1968: Ons Hou Konsert repeated by CAPAB with Johan Malherbe, Fitz Morley, Christine Basson and Glynn Day.

197*: Ons Hou Konsert performed in the Breytenbach Theatre, Pretoria by PACT

1981: Ons Hou Konsert performed in Windhoek by SWAPAC

1983: Ons Hou Konsert II produced as Robert Mohr's last production for CAPAB, going on tour on 14 July 1983 and being revived at the Nico Malan Theatre on 15 December 1983, with Christine Basson, Marga van Rooy, Neels Coetzee, Antoinette Kellermann, Blaise Koch, Fitz Morley. Decor by Peter Cazalet, costumes by Dicky Longhurst. Six performances of the production were sold to NAPAC and were performed in Richard's Bay, Greytown, Glencoe, Ladysmith, Estcourt and Pietermaritzburg from 8 to 13 August.

1989: Ons Hou Konsert produced by Universiteitsteater Stellenboschin the H.B. Thom Theatre in May, directed by Johann Nel with drama students. In this case the town's name is "Olijvenhoutsfontein" and De Egskeiding is replaced by Maljan onder die Hoenders.

1999: Ons Hou Konsert produced again by CAPAB as a tribute to Robert Mohr at the KKNK and in the Nico Arena. Using the original linking text by Robert Mohr and two of the original three Brink texts (Die Egskeiding and O, die Muise of Stemreg vir Vrouwe), but adapted and transferred to the "rainbow nation" by Peter Snyders. Directed by Johan Esterhuizen with Ivan Abrahams, Blaise Koch, Dawn Matthews, Euodia Samson, Waldemar Schultz, Royston Stoffels and Deirdre Wolhuter. Designs by by Michael Mitchell (décor), Birrie le Roux (costumes) and Skip Wright (lighting).

Sources

Grütter, Wilhelm, CAPAB 25 Years, 1987. Unpublished research. pp 54, 86.

Photograph, NELM Manuscripts - [Collection: FLETCHER, Jill]: 2005. 75. 19. 50.

Ons Hou Konsert II theatre programme, 1983.

NAPAC report, 1983/4.

KKNK Festival programme, 1999.

"Volksteater te proe op Stellenbosch", 1989. Die Burger[1]

Gabriel Botma, 1999, "Kleindorpse konsert vul pret-spasie", Die Burger[2]

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