Die Ryk Weduwee

("The Rich Widow") by Uys Krige (1910-1987). A hugely popular Afrikaans farce about a widow and her many suitors. Winner of the 2nd prize in the Afrikaans section of the 1952 Van Riebeeck Festival national play competition. The role

The original text

Published by Afrikaanse Pers, 1958.

Performance history in South Africa

First performed by NTO in 1953, directed by Anna Richter-Visser and opening in the Library Theatre in Market Street, before touring the country with 254 performances. The décor was by Kobus Esterhuysen, lighting by Harry Ligoff. The cast: Wena Naudé, Eghard van der Hoven, Daan Retief, Japie van Niekerk, Pikkie van Niekerk, Dawid van der Walt, Etrecia Mocke, Hannes Venter (later replaced by Reenen van Niekerk.

Popular with amateur groups and professionals alike.

Directed by Laurie van der Merwe for TRUK, 1968 with Wilna Snyman as the widow, Marius Weyers as Etienne Roux.

Done by CAPAB at the Hofmeyr Theatre directed by Sandra Kotzé from 26 September to 12 October 1974 with Louise Mollett-Prinsloo in the lead role with Pierre van Pletzen, Marie Pentz, Anna Cloete, Jan Prinsloo, Mees Xteen, Pieter Geldenhuys, Juanita Swanepoel and Cobus Rossouw as Pierre Naudé. Design by Pieter de Swardt, costumes by Jenny de Swardt

Sandra Kotzé directed another CAPAB production at the Nico Malan Theatre in 1976 with Babs Laker as the rich widow, Anna de Kock, and the rest of the cast including Ralph van Pletzen, Nerina Ferreira, Anna Cloete, André Rossouw, Mees Xteen, Pieter Geldenhuys, Liz Dick and Cobus Rossouw. Design by Pieter de Swardt, costumes by Penny Simpson and lighting by John T. Baker. Martin Crous was the stage manager.

Done in Namibia by SWAPAC in 1977/8*?,

Presented by SUKOVS Toneel opening at the Bloemfontein Civic Theatre on 12 August 1980, directed by Sandra Kotzé starring Cobus Rossouw (Pierre Naudé), Ronel Kriel (Elisabet Roos), Antoinette Kellermann (Anna de Kock), Paul Lückhoff (Piet Swart), Lida Meiring (Christine Vermaak), Henry Mylne (Jan de Kock), Nico Liebenberg (Etienne Roux), Johan Brewis (Frans de Waal), Roelien Spruyt (Alida de Waal). Stage management and lighting Jacques Mulder. This production was also staged in Sasolburg, Kroonstad, Welkom, and, in collaboration with CAPAB in Vryburg and Kimberley.

PACT in the State Theatre, Pretoria in 1986.

2010 version – with Roeline Daneel, Elsabé Daneel, Waldemar Schultz, Susanne Beyers, Antoinette Louw, Lulu Botha, Deon Lotz and ********: KKNK 2010.

Sources

PACT list, 1972.

Die Ryk Weduwee theatre programmes, 1974, 1976, 1980 (SUKOVS).

PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988.

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