Die Bedriegers

Die Bedriegers (“The Cheats”) is an Afrikaans farce by D.P. du Toit.

The original text

Originally written in Cape Dutch sometime between August 1892 and May 1893, and titled Di Bedriegers, it is considered to be the first fully Afrikaans play, about four men faking illness to avoid being called up for military duty on the border.

The title was later adapted to more modern Afrikaans idiom as Die Bedriegers. (It would be spelled Die Bedrieërs in contemporary Afrikaans)

Performances

Written and performed in Somerset East Town Hall sometime between August 1892 and May 1893, possibly by the Somerset Oos Debatsvereniging, with the author as a member of the cast. Rewritten the same year (to make provision for two women characters and allow women to perform), it thereafter was performed in various centres across the country, e.g in Pretoria by the AHTV in 1909-10.

Published in Di bedriegers : Magrita Prinslo, en ander Afrikaanse dramas en samesprake tot 1900 by F.C.L. Bosman. Voortrekkerpers, 1942.

Published in Die Storm en Ander Eenbedrywe, compiled by P.G. Nel, Perskor in 1972.

Return to B in Plays 1 Original SA Plays

Return to B in Plays 2 Foreign Plays

Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays

Return to Main Page