Montana actress
Chantal Stanfield writes a special guest column for us about her experiences on the show. Chantal plays rich-witch Dalene Phillips, who uses her cash to promote her dubious, often sex-andalous agendas. Here's Part 9 of her column: The Wicked Witch of Montana ...
The Ice Queen Cometh ... Or Cooleth?
And it’s hello again, possums! It’s been far too long - two weeks in TV-Land is forever! I’ve been off doin’ my thang and the soccer relegated an episode again so this column is tricky on recollections…
But I was so pleasantly surprised by last week’s episode. Sometimes, because of the mayhem in Montana’s shooting schedule last year and my being busy now, there are scenes that simply don’t register in my head. As if they’ve been wiped out and erased a lá “The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. So when they pop up, it’s like I experience it for the first time with you. It’s quite refreshing.
One such scene was Dalene and Winston “let’s have lunch at home” moment. Out of nowhere Dalene drops a gem like that in Winston’s lap - how’s he gonna say no?! Is Dalene simply playing Winston because Richard’s given her the ole talk-to-the-hand and she’s bored and randy?
Or is this the very subtle glimmering of their love flame starting up again. Sorry, did you just puke? Let’s be honest, yes, Dalene falls hard and fast for power but she does still surely love Winston, despite all the crap she’s done and put him through. Don’t you think? No?
Maybe she’s beginning to realise the stability and security she has with her husband and is doing what she needs to do to keep him. That includes some afternoon delight …
This old, battered love of their’s is put to the test when Winston gets rammed off the road. Dalene shows genuine concern for his safety, apart from the terror she feels that her nemesis could be the one behind it all and getting so close to her family.
It doesn’t look like a random occurrence… Dalene goes on the warpath after this.
Sis Nothemba also came bitterly close to being on the receiving end of the police’s firepower.
She was holding back that entire story about her father’s struggle involvement and the connection to the photograph for the sake of the community’s respect for her father, which is noble, I guess.
But, here’s my thing - if there are police at your front door, why you gonna hold back?! I say tell them everything the first time. Nobody should get those kinds of return visitors.
One third of the B-Boys, Simphiwe, pitched at the crutch-ridden Zola’s place to drop off some much-needed groceries in a rather Robin Hood of Mzansi gesture of goodwill after landing a job.
His heart seems like it’s in the right place, you know, just helping a fellow brother and his family out. But his cushy little job isn’t exactly above-board. Simphiwe, it seems, also has a handicap, if you will …
Poor Malusi is learning the value of a rand. For someone like him, who’s all flash, being pushed down to a job as a security guard is tough. But he’s pulling through.
Witnessing furtive exchanges between Nolitha and Sparks (who got pretty edgy after one too many questions hit close to the bone) behind packing crates in the warehouse makes the job more interesting. He’s in for a bumpy ride - especially without his wheels!
This week Dalene get’s hard done by. She’s had new computers and accounting software installed at the salon – a great way to move her mother and her other employees into the 21st century.
But money goes missing from the till. Zoli, the new receptionist from-you-know-where as Aunty Maud puts it, gets Dalene’s perfectly manicured finger pointed at her. This might not end well …
Frequently asked questions
• "Aren’t you going back to Sewende Laan?/ Where’s Vince?/ Are you still acting?" And other variations…
Ok, I had to put this here out of sheer frustration! What do you mean, am I still acting? Change the channel and see why we have an average of 3,3 million people (minimum) tuning in to watch Montana every week! I didn’t create Dalene just for laughs!
Seriously, I get these kinds of questions ALL the time. EVERY day. While I appreciate the value in and career boost of being on Sewende Laan a while ago, Montana is my new ‘home’ and I love it. Are we not marketing the show enough? Do people really think Sewende Laan is all there is and all I’ll ever do?! Ok, done venting…
Chantal’s Montana Awards (can you tell I just watched the Emmy’s?):
•
Funniest Actor on Set: A tie between
Charles Tertiens (Victor) and
Riana Alfreds (Yvonne). These two go way back and get on like they live in each other’s brain. Super-talented, über-funny and they just created an hilarious show together.
•
Most likely to have had a long, late night and is hopped up on Red Bull or such: Many contenders for this title but the winner is Thabang, our director. He works and plays hard. Even if it’s tough, he always brings his A-game. Big love!
•
The youngest person on set: Well, she wasn’t even born yet – Ella, our dialogue coach and advisor Lee’s daughter, was still in mom’s belly. Aaawwww! She can say she knews us before she was!
(Fyi, don’t take these too seriously, ne… In case anyone takes umbrage!)
I look forward to the episodes to come, especially to see what happens next and where the hell we are in the story! It’s just ludicrous that we were able to get away with all these interweaving, interlaced storylines and characters in such a short space of time. I hope you agree that it’s certainly entertaining!
Hopefully we’ll get a few real awards next year… Til next we meet in TV-Land.