Before LazyTown became a TV series, there were two Icelandic theatre plays...
The first, "Áfram Latibćr!" (Go On LazyTown! - 1996), is a makeshift masterpiece telling the story of how a merriful creature known as Íţróttaálfurinn (The Sports Elf) jumps on to the scene, waking up the sleepy little town. He goes about his way flipping, leaping, and gallantly popping in on all the denizens of Latibćr, persistently encouraging them to move around and live a more healthy lifestyle.
Íţróttaálfurinn (played by Magnús Scheving) is a bit different from the revised version of the
Sportacus character. His colors are green, blue, and orange, while his mannerisms seem somewhat mischievious and prankish at times, like a kind of leprechaun.
Solla Stirđa is the early idea of Stephanie, portrayed as a sort of out-of-shape dancer, who needs to work on her stiff joints.
The rest of the characters, also played by live-action performers, remain pretty much the same, with a few minor exceptions; Siggi Sćti (Ziggy) is a 'superman' idolizer; Nenni Níski (Stingy)'s tie is bigger; Goggi Mega (Pixel) is bald and enjoys virtual reality games; Halla Hrekkjusvín (Trixie) wields a sling-shot, and is a whole lot meaner and tougher; Stína Símalína (Bessie Busybody) is more raspy and caustic; Bćjarstjórinn (Mayor Meanswell) is about the same, minus the extra added 'coolness' (i.e. Secret Agent Zero).
All of these characters are seen as having qualities which would become more finely tuned in their puppet forms.
Four other characters who'd later be phased out of the mix included a clown lady who seems to love coins, as well as getting into mischief, named Eyrún Eyđslukló; a sloppy, lanky, laggish lad named Maggi Mjói; a Postman (Pósturinn); and a clumsy policeman named Lolli Lögga.
In 1999, the second Latibćr theatre play, "Glanni Glćpur í Latabć" (Robbie Rotten In LazyTown) hit the stage with a major upgrade in set design, story plot, and acting. This is the play where the correlation between 'Latibćr Ísland' and 'present-day LazyTown' starts to crystalize.
Solla Stirđa appears again -- a 'grown-up' version of Stephanie -- only this is the first time in the full familiar pink striped costume and pink hair.
Narrated by the only puppet in the show, a white rooster named Haninn (puppeteered by Guđmundur
Ţór Kárason), the tale begins when a smooth-talking sleight-of-hand bad guy named Glanni Glćpur (played by Stefán Karl) comes to town.
Íţróttaálfurinn, adorned in golden yellow and copper-brown, is surprisingly scarce in the story. He only makes about three appearances; once in the beginning, just before Glanni's arrival; second during the middle, in which he sprinkles some 'magic dust' over the town from his airship (with features that resemble a real-life ocean vessel), causing all the flowers to blossom and grow.
Meanwhile, disguised as a wealthy-looking figure in shiny purple attire, complete with spatterdashes and cane, going by the name of 'Rikki Ríki', Glanni and a few cloaked assailants wreak havoc on the un-suspecting townsfolk. He steals their vegetables, destroys the flowers, and frames both Halla and Solla for the crimes.
Last but not least, Íţróttaálfurinn is summoned back to town by Bćjarstjórinn, the mayor, who has been ousted by order of the new self-appointed leader, Rikki Ríki.
The Sports Elf swooshes into town, sheds light on the wrong-doers and once again, saves the day!
Og the rest is history...
Áfram Latibćr! Lyrics
Áfram Latibćr! Slide-Show
Glanni Glćpur í Latabć Slide-Show
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