Marlene Kratz

Marlene Kratz
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Moya O'Sullivan
Duration	1994–97, 2005
First appearance	5 July 1994
Last appearance	27 July 2005
Classification	Former, regular
Introduced by	Stanley Walsh (1994) Ric Pellizerri (2005)
In-universe information Occupation Cosmetics Salesperson Bric-a-Brac Shop Owner Receptionist Husband Hector Kratz Sons Patrick Kratz Daughters Cheryl Stark Grandsons Sam Kratz Darren Stark Brett Stark Granddaughters Janine Stark Danni Stark Lolly Allen

Marlene Kratz is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Moya O'Sullivan. She made her first on-screen appearance on 5 July 1994 and remained in the show until 14 October 1997, when the character went on a three month cruise and never returned. Marlene is an elderly lady who owned a bric-a-brac store and is obsessed with Elvis Presley. In 2005, O'Sullivan reprised her role of Marlene for Neighbours' 20th anniversary. She revealed that she is still sailing the seas.

Casting

In April 2005, Kris Green of Digital Spy confirmed O'Sullivan would be reprising her role of Marlene to join the many ex-cast members returning for the Neighbours 20th anniversary special episode.

Development

In 1996, Marlene embarked on a whirlwind romance with Colin Taylor (Frank Brenn). Shortly after Colin returns to Erinsborough, he sets out to win Marlene's heart. When asked what "lively" Marlene could possibly have in common with Colin, O'Sullivan told Inside Soap "They just hit it off in a big way. There's no big passion but they do have similar interests. Although she's surrounded by a loving family, it's nice for her to have someone of her own vintage around to care for her." The pair grow closer and O'Sullivan said they have a happy bond and it is definitely love between them. Dave Lanning of The People commented on the storyline, saying the Neighbours plotliners must have been on magic mushrooms when they decided to pair Marlene with the "terminally boring" Colin.

Storylines

Marlene arrives in Ramsay Street after purchasing Number 24 from Madge Bishop (Anne Charleston) and she is joined by her grandson, (Sam (Richard Grieve). It soon becomes apparent Marlene has purchased the house to be nearer to her estranged daughter, Cheryl Stark (Caroline Gillmer) who she had walked out on in her childhood. Cheryl refuses to have anything to do with Marlene at first but she softens after Marlene knits booties for the baby Cheryl is expecting.

Marlene settles into the area and befriends fellow pensioner Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy) and later runs her own bric-a-brac shop and plays surrogate mother to teenage runaway Bianca Zanotti (Anna Gagliardi). After Bianca's departure Marlene later takes in lodgers Annalise Hartman (Kimberley Davies and Cody Willis (Peta Brady). After Cheryl's relationship with Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver) breaks down, Cheryl, her daughter Louise (Jiordan Anna Tolli) and son Darren (Todd MacDonald) move into Number 24 with her. Cheryl is later killed in a car accident, leaving the family devastated and Marlene is left to keep the peace between Lou and Darren. When Madge returns to Erinsborough to reconcile with her husband Harold (Ian Smith), Marlene moves in next door with Lou and rents the house to the Bishops.

Marlene takes a job working for Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) and finds herself competing with Sarah Beaumont (Nicola Charles) for the title of Receptionist of the Year. She later leaves for a three month cruise but is not seen for 8 years until she appears in Annalise's documentary about Ramsay Street where she reveals she is still sailing the seas.

Reception

The BBC said Marlene's most notable moment was "Reuniting with Cheryl after so long." To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Neighbours, the BBC asked readers to nominate their twenty favourite obscure characters. Marlene came in tenth place and the readers said "Marlene Kratz, the mother of Lou Carpenter's late wife Cheryl Stark. Reason? For heading off on a three month cruise in the mid-1990s, never to be seen or spoken of again." A writer for Inside Soap branded Marlene "the grooviest granny in Erinsborough, who throws herself into any worthy cause, and opens her house to every passing waif and stray."

In 2010, to celebrate Neighbours' 25th anniversary, British satellite broadcasting company Sky, profiled twenty-five characters of which they believed were the most memorable in the series history. Marlene is in the list and Sky said "Considering Marlene was originally introduced in the rather serious business of being estranged for several decades from daughter Cheryl, she made a name for herself with comic storylines, largely revolving around getting into trouble with grandchildren Sam, Brett and Dannii. With her nineties shirts and love of Elvis Presley, Marlene spent three years getting into old lady scrapes before leaving on a three-month cruise. That was in 1997, so she's due back any day now."

Digital Spy made Marlene their "DS Icon" on 7 January 2011 and they called her a legendary and special character. Of Marlene and her personality, they said "Spending only three years on Ramsay Street, Marlene made an emotional impact on viewers who loved her wheeler dealer lifestyle (selling VCRs, running a bric-a-brac shop), constant scrapes and bantering with daughter Cheryl and son-in-law Lou Carpenter. Marlene, played by the delightful Moya O'Sullivan, was a crucial cog in the Golden Age of Neighbours in the '90s." They also said that adding to the mystery of Marlene was her unusual exit and how she did not return from her cruise. They added "The only glimpse we got of Marlene was a short clip in the 2005 anniversary show, where she was shown still sailing the seas. While that finally put to rest the rumours that Lou and Harold had bumped her off, her seemingly never-ending cruise still seems highly curious. Many suspect that she may have shacked up with a cheeky cabin boy, but we can't confirm that detail."

External links

• Character profile at the BBC