The one-woman show, Die Naaimasjien (The Sewing Machine) by Rachelle Greeff can be viewed online until Sunday June 27.
The show is Afrikaans but there is an option to watch a version with English subtitles.
Sitting in her room in the old-age home, Magdaleen cleans every part of her sewing machine, because she has sold it, and the woman on the phone said that she will be there to collect it at 3pm. With compassion and humour Magdaleen takes viewers back to a time of milk deliveries, filter coffee, stockings with seams and white Valiants. And she reminds us that a mother – like a babushka doll – stands within each of her children.
Hennie van Greunen, director and designer of this production, explains how Sandra Prinsloo became Magdaleen: “I tested almost every Afrikaans actress for the role, but just could not find the right one. Sandra – professional as she is – prepared four pages from the script, performed it at my house in Riebeek West, and half a page into her performance we both knew that she was Magdaleen.”
Die Naaimasjien had a huge impact on Sandra’s already successful acting career. “It was one of those defining productions where your career takes a new turn. I am immensely grateful that I had the opportunity to play her. The impact on audiences was overwhelming and through Die Naaimasjien, Rachelle gave a voice to senior citizens that could not be ignored.”
Greeff says creating this acclaimed script has changed her life. “I realised that, if you write from your heart and your kidneys without trying to be clever with tricks and gimmicks – then you speak to the hearts of people. I wish that I could write for theatre full time. The part that I enjoyed most is that you do not work alone; I write the script and then there is a whole team including people like Sandra and Hennie – how lucky can a girl get.”
Carien Loubser, award-winning producer and TV director, captured the production on film.
Tickets cost from R150 through Quicket.
