Jonah is the Fe’ausi ambassador to New Zealand and brother of King Gideon, the reigning monarch. A Machiavellian master politician who can go from great eloquence to feigned fresh-off-the-boat-ness with consummate skill, he truly believes that all the dodgy deals and morally questionable decisions he makes are for the good of his people.
Jonah is a huge man, a mountain. He is charming and effusive, but also cunning and amoral, albeit in a nice way. Like a whale crossed with a chameleon, Jonah can be one thing one minute and completely something else the next, depending on how he wants to be seen.
Jonah is a storyteller, drawing on (and creating in the process) rich tales of Fe’ausi’s history and tradition, to explain why they do the things they do. He can spell-bind anyone with his leaps of logic and his ability to make the morally indefensible sound like a parable Jesus himself would be proud of. Well, almost anyone. An uptight white man with an over-developed sense of morality and a point to prove is the last thing Jonah needs in his life right now – not when the incredibly-fat-and-could-die-just-standing-up-too-fast King is allegedly looking to hand over the crown, for the good of his health (and Jonah’s wealth). Unfortunately, after some unfortunate publicity involving several hundred thousand dollars of parking fines by diplomatic vehicles, often outside strip clubs, he cannot easily get rid of the little guard dog the King and their New Zealand protectors have foisted upon him.
So Jonah must keep Leighton looking the other way, whilst he goes about his usual business on behalf of the King and people of The Most Royal ingdom of Fe’ausi (i.e. doing many dodgy deals with many dodgy customers). Or he must bring Leighton over to the brown side, to see the world with a little bit more moral flexibility. Or he must so morally compromise Leighton that he will have no option but to play the game Jonah’s way. Whatever the course of action, it involves Jonah unleashing his staff onto the poor New Zealand intruder.
Dave Fane has most recently been seen on New Zealand screens as comedic offsider Falani in the hit drama comedy series Outrageous Fortune as well as the highly successful animated series bro’Town.
He is also part of the popular theatre comedy group the Naked Samoans.
In addition to Outrageous Fortune and bro’Town, Dave’s television credits include The Strip, Telelaughs, Skitz, The Semisis and presenting work on the children’s series What Now?
In late 2007, Dave appeared on the big screen in The Tattooist (which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2008 Qantas Film and Television Awards) and Eagle vs Shark. Prior to this, he played the role of Bolo in the hit New Zealand feature film Sione’s Wedding.
Dave’s theatre credits include: Niu Sila, Naked Samoans Talk About Their Knives, Naked Samoans Go To Hollywood, Naked Samoans Go Home, Fresh Off The Boat, Ladies Night, A Streetcar Named Desire, Serial Killers (written by James Griffin), Sons and A Frigate Bird Sings (co-writer). In early 2008, Dave co-directed Where We Once Belonged for Auckland Theatre Company.
Dave currently juggles his acting commitments with his role as breakfast host on hip hop station Flava FM.
