Dube having a blast playing a woman
He’s Dame Dolla in Snow White
Television, stage and comedy star Desmond Dube finally gets to fulfill his fantasy of playing a woman.
Dube is cast as Dame Dolla in the Snow White pantomime coming to the Joburg Theatre next month.
The multi-talented Dube is excited to return to what he calls “funny stuff” after spending two years doing more intense theatre and musicals such as The Suitcase, I See You and Broadway hit musical King Kong.
The funny actor made sure he returned to pantomimes to celebrate director Janice Honeyman’s 31-year milestone in the performing arts industry.
Dube defines pantomimes as complicated, funny and challenging all at the same time.
“It is a specific style. It is about fun, it has elements of seriousness with a bit of playfulness. The challenge is that the fun has to appeal to an eight-year-old child and to an 80 year old.
“It is quite a big gap of people to entertain. For example, the humour about adult things, children must not get it but adults must get it. Once you get it right, you have a lot of fun.”
Snow White is a world famous fairytale of a young pretty girl known as Snow White.
Dube’s comic role of Dame Dolla works for the queen at her palace. He says he’s enjoying the role so much that he does not mind gender swapping in his next drama series or stage production.
“You get an opportunity to recreate your mother’s character. It is not often that a boy or a man gets to play that role.
“I like that it challenges you. The most quality that I like about women is the extra-ness. You guys are extra, you dramatise everything,” he laughs.
Other stars of Snow White are former 702 radio host John Robbie, Oscar Buthelezi, Matt Counihan, Sne Dladla, Daniel Keith Geddes, Emil Haarhoff, Dirk Joubert, Saxola Ketshengane, Sebe Leotlela and Dolly Louw.
Dube has commended Honeyman for giving the show a South African flavour through the music and acting. The 70year-old has presented different versions of Snow White at Joburg Theatre in the past years, but Dube feels this one will be the best ever.
Snow White opens officially on November 3 and closes on December 23.
When the season ends, Dube will go back to his television work, where he is busy producing two shows.
For the first time he will be producing a drama series but he refuses to share more about it. His show #Karekters is currently being repeated on SABC2.
Over a month ago, the debate about Dube being the son of veteran actress Lillian Dube was back on social networks.
The Kimberley-born actor said he was not Lillian’s son. He met her when he was young and starting to act on television.
“A lot of actors came into the industry through Mam Lillian. I happened to be one of them.
“I guess she liked me because I used to imitate her when she speaks. Since then I have known her for years.”
Dube has acted in the movie Hotel Rwanda, and TV series Hopeville, Ladies’ Detective Agency, Friends Indeed and Suburban Bliss.