Behind a sofa
The hand dolls Kaj and Andrea made their entrance into the life of Danes via the TV screen in the spring of 1971. The basis of the whole show was a sofa, which the dolls were able to stand on - and the doll operators could hide behind. Singer and musician Povl Kjoeller and actor Kjeld Noergaard were designated the task of appearing together with the dolls; they were grown-up, reasonable sort of people that not only the childlike dolls but also the child viewers could rely on.
Nothing to fear
When trouble breaks out - and that happens specially involving Andrea, who is the very epitome of a stubborn five-year-old - a solution is always near at hand. The universe is harmonious, so is the camerawork. With the help of cool pictures, we are able to follow Kaj and Andrea's journey on their way to reaching an understanding of the world of the adults. It can be a question of learning to go to the grocer's. Or an attempt to grasp something as abstract as the phenomenon of time. "Yesterday tomorrow was today ...." repeats Andrea, for example, in interrogative mode. The parrot is also aware of the importance of a good rhyme, because that's what helps people to remember the songs! Those songs in which the TV broadcasts abound.
Just as fresh as in 1971
These well-known doll figures have fascinated children (and adults) in Denmark since 1971, achieving - along with one of the show's founders - Povl Kjoeller - a sort of cult status. With their own website, countless repeats of their hits, an entire repeat performance of the show in 1999 - this time with Ole Kibsgaard and Christine Skou as the grown-ups - we can only conclude that you can never be too old for Kaj and Andrea. And Kaj and Andrea are still on the ball - just as fresh as back in 1971 when they presented themselves to the public for the first time.
Lone Nyhuus, a former dancer and choreographer, is a freelance journalist working for i.e. Danish Radio Programme 2's Theatre Magazine.
Kaj and Andrea plays. Photo: Ulla Voigt. © DR.