By die Tande Dokter

By die Tande Dokter ("At the Dentist" - literally "at the tooth doctor") is a Dutch/ Afrikaans one-act comedy ("blijspel") by Melt Brink (1842–1925).

Because of the early state of development of the Afrikaans spelling, the play's title appears in various forms, including By die Tandedokter, Bij die Tande-dokter and Bij die Tande Dokter.

The original text

It was originally published in Cape Dutch (referred to sometimes as "Brink-Afrikaans") with the title Bij die Tande-dokter by De Bussy (Pretoria) and HAUM (Cape Town) in 1905, with the subtitle "blijspel in een bedrijf voor drie heren en een dame". Reprinted in 1911, 1917, 1921. Also published as part of the compilation Ons Hou Konsert by Robert Mohr by DALRO in 1973.

The first formally recorded performance was by Aurora in 1910, though it was most probably done earlier by a Cape Town amateur company.

Translations and adaptations

The play was apparently adapted, translated and/or performed, under a variety of titles by various societies over the years. E.g as Oom Piet met syn Tand Pyn by "Domkrag", published in De Koerier, Beaufort West, 27 November 1910; as Tandpyn by the CJV Nooitgedacht-Suid in 1914; and as In die Stoel van die Tandarts, translated into Afrikaans by "Ware Afrikaner".

The play has also formed part of some versions of Robert Mohr's series of revue-compilations called Ons Hou Konsert (1967 and later).

Performances

1905: Possibly performed as Bij die Tande-dokter in Cape Town.

1910: Performed as By die Tandedokter by Aurora III in the ANV Saal, Cape Town on 5 July.

1910 Oom Piet met syn Tand Pyn perhaps performed in Beaufort West (?)

1914: Tandpyn performed by the CJV Nooitgedacht-Suid

1967: Bij die Tande-dokter performed as part of Ons Hou Konsert (Melt Brink/Robert Mohr) by CAPAB in 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: Bij die Tande-dokter performed as part of Ons Hou Konsert (Melt Brink/Robert Mohr) by CAPAB on tour

197*: Bij die Tande-dokter performed as part of Ons Hou Konsert (Melt Brink/Robert Mohr) by PACT in the Breytenbach Theatre, Pretoria

1981: Bij die Tande-dokter performed as part of Ons Hou Konsert (Melt Brink/Robert Mohr) by SWAPAC in Windhoek.

1989: Bij die Tande-dokter performed as part of Ons Hou Konsert (Melt Brink/Robert Mohr) by the Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch in the H.B. Thom Theatre

Sources

http://www.litnet.co.za/melt-j-brink-1842-1925/

http://www.dbnl.org/auteurs/auteur.php?id=brin019

P.J. du Toit, 1988. Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika. Pretoria: Academica

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 475, 477

A photocopy of the 1981 DALRO text of Ons Hou Konsert, with the addition of a typed copy of Maljan onder die Hoenders, found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department archives in 2022.

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