Beloved ladies regale in the flesh
‘Lollipop Lane’ serial transformed for the stage
ACTRESS Maeshni Naicker reprises her role as the kleptomaniac Auntie from the popular radio serial Lollipop Lane — which ran from 2008 to 2012 — in a new theatre production, The Ladies of Lollipop Lane. She spoke to SIPHILISELWE
MAKHANYA ahead of the show’s April 11 to 13 run at Durban’s Sibaya casino.
How did you come to be the voice of 70-something Auntie and what do you think of her?
I’ve been with the Lollipop team from 2010. A lady had just left — she played Auntie before me. I was called in and auditioned by Caroline Smart. She liked what I did with the role because I made it my own. I didn’t go with what the previous lady had done, but added my own funniness and my own version of what I thought Auntie was like.
Auntie is hilarious — she’s always up to nonsense. She can be very rude and very insulting. She loves pinching stuff. The moment you turn your back she’s taking something from your handbag or “accidentally” taking something from your flat. She thinks that every guy loves her legs and she had a string of admirers when she was younger, but it’s all in her head. I really love playing her because she’s just so funny.
What was the most
challenging part about the transition of your character from the radio to the stage?
Radio is easier because you’re reading from a script and expect your listener to use their imagination. You simply take the words and bring them to life. I feel that stage is more challenging because you have to really captivate your audience — you’re taking the words and adding your body, your language, your articulation and facial expressions to it.
In terms of makeup and costume, do you think your stage team has managed to bring to life what fans of the show envisioned when they heard the characters’ voices on the radio?
I think we’ve got it down perfectly because you can picture Mrs Singh-Singh looking like a stern principal — and that’s how the pictures look. You imagine Singh-Song looking big and bubbly. She’s this big, fat lady who wears her saris and is always eating — she’s always stuffing her mouth with something. Auntie has her grey hair and her walking stick. The way we’ve styled the characters is exactly what you’d picture them to be. We did our own makeup, but we had some assistance with costumes and props from [show creator] Clinton Marius and the team.
What have your personal encounters with fans of the show been like?
I’ve had so many people stop me and say: “You know what? During that time slot that you were on the radio we would stop working. We would put on the radio and we would listen to Lollipop Lane.” There was even a doctor’s receptionist who said she didn’t book any patients for 9.45am to 10am because she was listening to the radio. Housewives would have their cup of tea and stop cooking and cleaning just to listen to the show.
Tickets to the show are from R100 through Computicket