Stonefish Rebecchi

Stonefish Rebecchi
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Anthony Engelman
Duration	1994, 1995–96, 2003, 2007
First appearance	31 March 1994
Last appearance	28 August 2007
Introduced by	Alan Coleman (1994) Stanley Walsh (1995) Ric Pellizzeri (2003, 2007)
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Occupation	Student (1994–95) Coffee Shop assistant Mechanic
Home	Port Keats
Family Father Kevin Rebecchi Mother Angie Rebecchi Brothers Shane Rebecchi Toadfish Rebecchi Wife Chantelle Rebecchi Aunts Janelle Timmins Coral Reeves Nieces Nell Rebecchi First cousins Brandon Timmins Dwayne Timmins Dylan Timmins Stingray Timmins<br/ >Janae Timmins Anne Baxter Bree Timmins Gemma Reeves Tad Reeves Georgia Brooks

Kevin "Stonefish" Rebecchi is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap Neighbours, played by Anthony Engelman. He made his first appearance on 31 March 1994. Stonefish was the first of the Rebecchi family to appear and he was later followed by his mother, father and brothers. The character left in 1996, but returned briefly in 2003. In 2007, Engelman reprised his character again and Stonefish returned to Ramsay Street. He departed on 28 August 2007.

Creation and casting

In 1994, a writer for TV Week revealed Neighbours would be introducing "a younger, livelier look with six regular characters under the age of 18."^[1] Shortly after, the character of Stonefish was created and introduced to the show.^[1] Engelman landed the role of Stonefish and he told a writer for Inside Soap that his first script said Stonefish got his nickname because he looks like a stonefish.^[2] The actor quipped "They'd written that before they'd even cast me! When I got my script I was like 'What the hell does a stonefish look like anyway?!'"^[2]

Stonefish became the first member of the Rebecchi family to arrive in Erinsborough. He was later joined by his mother, father, brother and cousin.^[3] The character left in 1996 and appeared briefly in 2003. In August 2007, it was announced that Stonefish would be returning to Neighbours to "cause some trouble for little brother Toadie".^[3][4]

Development

A writer for Inside Soap said Stonefish was happiest causing a stir in the classroom, and that wherever there was trouble, you could bet he was involved.^[5] Stonefish arrives in Ramsay Street when he thinks Brett Stark (Brett Blewitt) has started dating his girlfriend, Sassy Patterson-Smythe (Defah Dattner).^[2] Engelman said Stonefish is usually easy going, but he becomes really jealous.^[2] However, when Sassy moves out of the picture, Stonefish and Brett become great friends.^[2] Stonefish falls behind with his studies and Cody Willis (Peta Brady) helps him out, making Stonefish think she is romantically interested in him.^[2] Engelman said "He's really got the hots for her, but when he makes a pass at her at a party it all goes horribly wrong."^[2] The actor said he had a lot in common with his character, as he had a tough time at school too and did not have much luck with girls.^[2] When asked if Stonefish would ever get a girlfriend or roam around Ramsay Street in his stonewash denim forever, Engelman replied "Life gets much better for Stonefish. There might even be romance on the horizon, but I'm afraid he'll always be a dag."^[2] Stonefish later steals some exam papers from Erinsborough High and he sells them to Rick Alessi (Dan Falzon), who wants to help Cody as she is behind with her revision. When Rick gives Cody the papers, she has second thoughts about cheating.^[6] Stonefish eventually grows up and becomes a "reformed bully". He and his family purchase Number 32 and move into Ramsay Street.^[5][7] An Inside Soap columnist called the Rebecchi family "dodgy" and said the residents should nail down their valuables and lock up their daughters.^[7]

Storylines

Stonefish mistakenly believes his girlfriend, Sassy, has been seeing Brett Stark. Stonefish punches Brett and then continues to hassle him. Brett's friend, Michael Martin (Troy Beckwith) later punches Stonie after he continues to hassle Brett. Stonie later mellows and joins a band formed by the local teens including Brett, Michael, Brett's sister, Danni (Eliza Szonert) and Cody Willis. When the others vote Sassy out due to her terrible singing voice, Stonie threatens to quit. When the Debutante Ball arrives to celebrate the centenary of Erinsborough, Stonie attends with Sassy as his date. The evening goes well but descend into chaos when a catfight between Sassy and Cody starts and Stonie is caught in a scrap with Cody's date, Rick Alessi.

Stonie later moves into Ramsay street with his family. At the start of 1995, He finds himself an unwitting Guinea Pig in an experiment conducted by Brett and the newly arrived Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine), who want to see if they can get the most unlikely candidate elected as school captain. Brett agrees to be Stonie's campaign manager. It all seems to be going well until Danni reveals the truth to Stonie who turns his anger on Brett. Instead of hitting Brett, Stonie decides to teach him a lesson by swapping roles with Brett as the candidate and Stonie as the campaign manager. Brett loses out to Keiran Wallace and both boys put school politics behind them.

Stonie later falls for Cody, who is still involved with Rick. After Cody ends things with Rick, they become a couple but it is a difficult relationship as Cody is at University and Stonie is still in high school on his third attempt at Year 12. Stonie later lodges with Danni and her boyfriend, Malcolm Kennedy (Benjamin McNair) when they move out of home and are soon joined by Stonie's mother Angie (Lesley Baker) and brother Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney). Number 32 soon becomes home to the Rebecchi family after Mal and Danni move back home.

As Stonie begins studying for his HSC, he calls on Annalise Hartman (Kimberly Davies) to tutor him in English and Maths. Stonie kisses Annalise one day, but she rebuffs him as she is in a relationship with Sam Kratz. After months of sexual tension, Annalise and Stonefish sleep together only for Angie to come home and discover the affair. Annalise confesses all to Sam, who later punches Stonie when he sees him in Annalise's hotel room. Upon starting University, Stonie falls for Catherine O'Brien (Radha Mitchell) and is willing to go to any lengths to impress her, including pretending to be a vegetarian and getting involved in environmental issues. This is cut short when Catherine returns to Tasmania to look after her mother Bess (Diana McLean).

When Stonie and Malcolm buy a car together, they are horrified to learn its previous owners were drug dealers and the stash is still inside. The drug squad arrive and arrange a stakeout. During a scuffle between the police and the dealers, who return to recover the drugs, a gunshot is fired through the window of Number 30 and Cody is shot. A week later, Cody dies in hospital and Stonie is devastated. He then puts on a tribute for her at her memorial service. Catherine returns and Stonie is elated but is soon disappointed when he finds she doesn't want to be with him any more. Stonie decides to go up North with Angie to rejoin his father Big Kev (Don Bridges).

Stonie returns to Erinsborough to serve as best man at Toadie's wedding to Dione Bliss (Madeleine West). During the visit, Stonie admits that he is jealous of his younger brother for graduating University, becoming a lawyer and preparing to settle down, whereas He has spent the past several years working in their parents Roadhouse. On the day of the wedding, Toadie and Dee's car veers off the road and into the sea. Stonie and Toadie's housemate Stuart Parker (Blair McDonough) pull Toadie to safety but there is no sign of Dee who is presumed drowned. When Toadie returns to spot where the accident happens and begins wading into the sea, Stonie manages to stop his brother from committing suicide. Realizing there is they can do little to help Toadie out of his grief, Stonie, Kev and Angie return home.

Four years later, Stonie returns to Ramsay Street to stay with Toadie. Stonie reveals he is now married to a woman named Chantelle (Claire Chitham), but he mentions they are now separated. It becomes apparent that he is smoking marijuana. Whilst smoking, he throws the butt over the fence to Number 30 and Frazer Yeats (Ben Lawson) discovers it and immediately assumes Toadie is the one smoking it. After smelling smoke again, Frazer looks over the fence and spots Stonie smoking. After a mishap where Charlie Hoyland accidentally discovers the dope, Stonie then comes clean to Toadie and Charlie's mother, Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner) and explains he is depressed because he and Chantelle were trying for a baby and they are not having much luck. Chantelle comes to Ramsay Street to sort her husband out. Stonie announces he is giving up marijuana. However, just as he is about to throw the rest in the bin, he holds onto it. Chantelle gives him an ultimatum: her or the marijuana. Stonie chooses her and throws out the marijuana, and they return to Port Keats.

Reception

Of the character's 2007 return, a reporter for the Evening Chronicle said "Stonefish was always a rogue when he was originally a Ramsay Street resident and things aren't much better now he's back."^[8] The reporter added Stonefish was a bad influence on his younger brother, Toadie.^[8] Sue Malins of the Daily Mirror said Stonefish was "one of the show's most unattractive males."^[9] Jon Peake for Inside Soap called Stonefish "irritating".^[10]

References