Sagmoedige Neelsie ("Meek or Gentle Neelsie [=Little Cornelius]") can refer to three things in South African performance:

1 The pseudonym used by C.J. Langenhoven(1873-1932)[ for his popular weekly column Aan Stille Waters in Die Burger newspaper, as well as some other writings. It was also the name by which Langenhoven was affectionately known by friends and the general public.

(For more on this, see C.J. Langenhoven.)

2 A stage text by Bartho Smit, compiled from the prose and dramatic writings of C.J. Langenhoven

3 A TV series by Johan van Jaarsveld and Manie van Rensburg.

The play text by Bartho Smit (1973)

The original text

This is a dramatised compilation by Bartho Smit, made up of extracts from C.J. Langenhoven's prose writings. Commissioned and staged by the Johannesburg Civic Theatre to coincide with the 1973 centenary celebrations of Langenhoven's birth.

The text was compiled from the following works : Sonde met die Bure, Herrie op die ou Tremspoor, Aan Stille Waters, Loeloeraai and Doppers en Filistyne.

Performance history in South Africa

1973: The Bartho Smit dramatisation was first staged by and in the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, directed by Smit, opening on 11 September and playing till the 22nd. The leading performers were professional actors Cobus Rossouw (Neels), Kita Redelinghuys (Vroutjie), Sandra Kotze (Engela), Siegfried Mynhardt (Watwo), Pagel Kruger (Konst. Juggins), Willie van Aswegen (Magistraat), Joey Wishnia (Prokureur & Winkelklerk), Jacques Loots (Winkelbestuurder), Louis Balkind (Hanswors), Pieter Erasmus (Afslaer), Charles Williams (Swaer Brits), Gert van Tonder (Bart Bontrok), John Bier (Bolton), David Moore (Willem), Billy Pretorius (Prof. Smith). The citizens of Oudtshoorn, Prins Albert and other towns in the vicinity were played by members of local amateur societies and students, and included Zanne Cloete, Isabel Terre'Blanche, Cora Hutchings, Sias Scott, Naude Slabber, Tina Krynauw, Johan van der Merwe, Drienie Tiessen and Johan Jansen.

Decor was by Kobus Esterhuysen, costumes by Heather MacDonald Rouse, make-up by John Dercksen, lighting by Ronnie Dorman, stage manager Louis Balkind (assisted by Gotfried Chmelar and Philip Steyn), prompts were Sias Scott and Tina Krynauw.

1973: The Johannesburg Civic Theatre's production next played at the Aula at the University of Pretoria from 25 to 29 September.

Sagmoedige Neelsie (TV Series, 1984)

Sagmoedige Neelsie is also the title used for a light-hearted comedic television series based on Langenhoven's work, written by Johan van Jaarsveld and directed and produced by filmmaker Manie van Rensburg in 1983, broadcast by the SABC between 13 March and 17 April, 1984.

It featured Cobus Rossouw (Neelsie), Annelize van der Ryst (Vroutjie), Karin Retief (Engela), Ernst Eloff (Oom Stoffel), Marga van Rooy (Soetlief), Jannie Gildenhuys (Oom Watwo), Emile Aucamp (Kootjie), Mees Xteen (municipal constable), Pierre Knoesen (shop assistant), André Rossouw (mayor), Roger Dwyer (magistrate), Limpie Basson, Ben Blanckenberg (Van der Bijl), Louise Mollett-Prinsloo (Mrs. van der Bijl).