The so-called writers collective made up of Hans Dorrestijn, Karel Eykman, Ries Moonen, Jan Riem and Willem Wilmink was never afraid to make light of depressing subjects such as death, jealousy and other human failings, even when writing songs and sketches for children's program's such as "De Stratemaker Op Zee Show" and "JJ De Bom Voorheen: De Kindervriend". In 1976 director Frans Boelen somehow managed to persuade VARA television to put on a satirical show aimed at the elderly. The result was a groundbreaking and hilarious yet occasionally touching program that hasn't seen been repeated since - not even on the new Dutch broadcasting company specifically aimed at seniors, 'Max'.
Behind the scenes, almost the entire crew of 'De Stratemaker' carried over to this new 'Show for Seniors', but in front of the camera, only one of the aforementioned program's cast members appeared: the multi talented Wieteke van Dort, who got to play another prototype of her most famous character 'Tante Lien' during DIDNMM. Wieteke was joined by an impressive cast of actors, all of whom capable of comedy, drama and musical performance: Adèle Bloemendaal, Henny Alma, Mieke Verstraete, her son Coen Flink, Piet Hendriks, Lou Landré and Leen Jongewaard. All of them got to portray a wide range of characters both young and old, sympathetic and annoying.
Each of the original 6 episodes was centered around a single theme, such as generational problems, death, funerals, and WWII. Some of these subjects were introduces by way of short interviews with actual old age pensioners. The writer's collective had an uncanny knack to put their finger on sensitive subjects and still make them recognizable and funny. One episode was apparently submitted to a foreign competition (most likely Montreux) and is therefore available in both it's original and a subtitled version. This show, centering on death and funerals, features some particularly memorable musical numbers ranging from being content with human loss to being glad to be rid of an overbearing husband and hoping that to live long enough to bury a pet dog (less it fall into somebody else's care).
It is very difficult to find critic's opinions of 'Dat Ik Dit Nog Mag Meemaken' online, as it is nigh impossible to find somebody who even remembers it. I'm sure the sarcasm and subject matters won't have fallen into favor with everybody, but to me the show is a brilliant example of groundbreaking television that could only have been broadcast in the seventies. The media has become far too self conscious and careful not to insult any age group nowadays for anything like this ever to be attempted again.
9 out of 10
Behind the scenes, almost the entire crew of 'De Stratemaker' carried over to this new 'Show for Seniors', but in front of the camera, only one of the aforementioned program's cast members appeared: the multi talented Wieteke van Dort, who got to play another prototype of her most famous character 'Tante Lien' during DIDNMM. Wieteke was joined by an impressive cast of actors, all of whom capable of comedy, drama and musical performance: Adèle Bloemendaal, Henny Alma, Mieke Verstraete, her son Coen Flink, Piet Hendriks, Lou Landré and Leen Jongewaard. All of them got to portray a wide range of characters both young and old, sympathetic and annoying.
Each of the original 6 episodes was centered around a single theme, such as generational problems, death, funerals, and WWII. Some of these subjects were introduces by way of short interviews with actual old age pensioners. The writer's collective had an uncanny knack to put their finger on sensitive subjects and still make them recognizable and funny. One episode was apparently submitted to a foreign competition (most likely Montreux) and is therefore available in both it's original and a subtitled version. This show, centering on death and funerals, features some particularly memorable musical numbers ranging from being content with human loss to being glad to be rid of an overbearing husband and hoping that to live long enough to bury a pet dog (less it fall into somebody else's care).
It is very difficult to find critic's opinions of 'Dat Ik Dit Nog Mag Meemaken' online, as it is nigh impossible to find somebody who even remembers it. I'm sure the sarcasm and subject matters won't have fallen into favor with everybody, but to me the show is a brilliant example of groundbreaking television that could only have been broadcast in the seventies. The media has become far too self conscious and careful not to insult any age group nowadays for anything like this ever to be attempted again.
9 out of 10