Mis

Mis is an Afrikaans play by Reza de Wet (1952-2012).

The original text

The title has a variety of meanings in Afrikaans (e.g. "dung", "off-target", "fog" and "holy mass"), all of which feature symbolically in this magical-realist play about a young daughter's escape from her disfunctional rural Afrikaans family. In adverbial form, i.e. vermis, the term also refers to the idea of "missing" or unable to be found - hence the title given to the English translation of the play.)

First published by HAUM as part of a trilogy entitled Trits: Mis - Mirakel - Drif (or simply Trits) in 1993. The text won the Fleur du Cap Award for Best New Indigenous Script 1993 and the collection won De Wet the Hertzog Prize for Drama in 1993.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into English as Missing, by Steven Stead and published in 2000 by Oberon Books in the collection Plays One: Missing - Crossing - Miracle (or simply Plays One) by Reza de Wet (also containing Miracle and Crossing).

Adapted as a radio drama by André Stoltz, and broadcast in Afrikaans by RSG (Radioteater #47) with Isadora Verwey, Marga van Rooy, Annelisa Weiland and Lelia Etsebeth.

Performances in South Africa

According to Gordon Dickerson, De Wet's international agent, Missing and African Gothic and are the most widely performed of Reza’s plays.

1992: First performed in Afrikaans at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown by CAPAB in July 1992, directed by Marthinus Basson, with Mary Dreyer, ***, André Roothman, and **. Trix Pienaar, Elma van Wijk, André Roothman en Mary Dreyer (Date unconfirmed. See next entry).

1993: Performed in Afrikaans in the Nico Malan Theatre, Cape Town by CAPAB directed by Marthinus Basson from 16 March to 3 April 1993, with Mary Dreyer (Gertie), Elma van Wijk (Meisie), Trix Pienaar (Miem) and André Roothman (Konstabel). Design by Birrie le Roux, lighting by Pieter de Swardt. This production toured the Cape Province and was seen at the National Arts Festival 1993.

1996: Scenes from the play were performed by seven final year University of Stellenbosch drama students in the Kellerteater at the University, directed by lecturer Shirley Johnston, with a cast including Paul du Toit, Angerie van Wyk, Martelize Kolver, Leanna Dreyer, Nicole Holm , Amelda Brand and Nico Dreyer. Set design and lighting by Kobus Rossouw. In a rare exchange, the production was also performed for and debated by the UCT drama staff and students, in the Drama Department of the University of Cape Town.