Die Proponentjie

Die Proponentjie (lit. "The little candidate-minister") is an Afrikaans farce by Pieter Fourie (1940-2021).

The original text

Based on an incident from the author's youth in Luckhoff in the Free State, it was by his own admission written purely for money. Dealing with the conservative tendencies of a white, Afrikaans rural community and the impact of a unconventional new and young church minister in town, it was Fourie's first attempt at a suggestive farce. The play was first performed in the Western Cape by CAPAB in 1986, followed by productions in the Orange Free State and in the Transvaal. The text was published by Perskor, 1987.

For some reason Nico Luwes (2012: p. 307) refers to the play as a commissioned work for PACT, first done by them in 1987, however the rest of his discussion actually confirms the sequence of performances as given below.

Though not being rated highly by critics, indeed quite heavily criticized as old hat, contrived and unfinished, the play has nevertheless been very popular with audiences, performed numerous times by amateurs, students and professionals over the years.

Adaptations and translations

Performing rights for the play granted by DALRO to the SABC radio in November 1996.

Performance history in South Africa

1986: A CAPAB production opened on 16 April at the Nico Malan Theatre, after having toured to Hermanus, George, Swellendam, Saldanha and Worcester. It was directed by Pieter Fourie with Nerina Ferreira, Diane Wilson, Shaleen Surtie-Richards, Janie du Plessis, Estelle Gouws, Marion Holm, Michelle Botes, Margaretha Fischer and Gustav Geldenhuys. Design by Dicky Longhurst, lighting by Malcolm Hurrell. This production was seen at the H.B. Thom Theatre on 14 May.

1987: Performed by PACOFS, directed by Pieter Fourie, with Elsabé Zietsman, Michele Burgers, Gustav Geldenhuys and others.

1988: Performed in the State Theatre, Pretoria, by PACT in October, directed by François Swart Francois Swart, with Bill Curry (Max), Hannes Muller (Ds Gaffie Geringer), Natania van Heerden (Wania Oberholzer), Lida Botha (Grieta van den Bergh), Lizz Meiring (Klein Griet van den Bergh), Christine Basson (Dollie Duvenhage), Shareen Swart (Tienie Duvenhage), Lida Meiring (Sarie Haasbroek), Kim de Beer (Hannie Haasbroek) and Annandre Stapelberg (Tanya). Decor and costumes by Chris van den Berg. Also performed in the Roodepoort Civic Theatre, and other regional theatres later the year.

1989: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the Marquard Geloftefees for performances in Marquard during December.

1990: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the Hoërskool Taaibos for performances in Kragbron during August.

1990: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the Vereeniging Dramatic Society for performances in Vereeniging during September.

1990: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the Venterstad Gemeente for performances at the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam during November and in Venterstad during December.

1991: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the Homevale Sekondêre Skool for performances in Kimberley during October.

1993: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the Die Ateljee for performances in Lichtenburg and Johannesburg during June.

1994: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the NG Kerk Noord-Despatch for performances in Despatch during December.

1997: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the Volksteater for performances in Pretoria during March.

1998: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the Kokstad NG Kerk for performances in Kokstad during September.

1999: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the Stilbaai NG Kerk for performances in Stilbaai during August.

2001: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the Paarl Teaterklub for performances in Paarl during June.

2001: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the Persona Teaterklub for performances in Welkom during October.

2002: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the NH Gemeente Eendekuil for performances in Eendekuil during September.

2002: Performing rights granted by DALRO to the Kogelberg Amateur Teatergroep for performances in Hermanus during August.

2002: Performed in the Wynand Mouton Theatre, Bloemfontein, by students of the Drama Department of the University of the Free State, directed by Pieter Venter.

2007: Performed in the Wynand Mouton Theatre, Bloemfontein, by students of the Drama Department of the University of the Free State, directed by Pieter Venter.

2010: Performed at the Volksblad Festival, directed by Paul Eilers with Deon Lotz, Susanne Beyers, Ilse Oppelt, Erica Wessels, Roeline Daneel, Hannetjie Smit, Lynita Crofford, Lulu Botha and Antoinette Louw.

Sources

Grütter, Wilhelm, CAPAB 25 Years, 1987. Unpublished research. 112

Die Proponentjie theatre programme (CAPAB), 1986.

PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988

PACT theatre programme, 1988.

Volksblad, 1 July 2010.

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.307-321; 665-669 [1]

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