The cast of The Naked Samoans Do Magic talk about preparing for their roles for the production. / Doug Sherring
It seemed like a good idea at the time: after 12 years away from the stage, The Naked Samoans would reunite for the 2018 Auckland Arts Festival and celebrate 20 years in showbiz.
So, Dave Fane, Mario Gaoa, Shimpal Lelisi, Oscar Kightley, Robbie Magasiva and Heto Ah Hi got together with Conch Theatre to start rehearsals and discovered while the old magic was still there, their fitness levels had dipped a bit.
"Contrary to popular opinion, acting is quite hard," says Lelisi. "It is like a physical sport, a discipline. I think they say one hour on stage is equal to eight hours on a jack-hammer . . . "
He looks to co-stars Fane and Ah Hi to validate the somewhat questionable claim; they nod, not looking entirely convinced, but agree those early rehearsals confirmed it was time to learn new tricks.
It meant that regular work-outs and personal training at Les Mills were added to their behind-the-scenes prep: writing a script, learning lines, working out where they'll stand on stage and doing actual magic.
All have lost weight, feel better for it and Ah Hi reports improvements in his type two diabetes; taking to the stage next week won't be a problem.
The Naked Samoans as you've never seen them before.
It's quite unlike anything The Naked Samoans have done in their two decades together. Along with the social satire and physical theatre they're known and loved for, they're incorporating actual magic into performances.
It's a very necessary part of a story that goes something like this: in a parallel New Zealand, The Naked Samoans never went on to make successful TV shows, like bro'Town, or films such as Sione's Wedding. Instead, they became civil servants, KFC chefs, window washers and they lost touch with one another.
Following the death of a mysterious fan, they discover they've inherited the keys to a dilapidated Ponsonby villa. With house prices skyrocketing and money to be made, the boys gather to sell it off and get on with their lives.
But imbued with the spirit of magic, the house and its contents have some tricks to teach the boys - tricks that mean they must face their biggest challenge but will they respect the wishes of the dead?
Looking for the deep and meaningful takeaway from The Naked Samoans Do Magic? It's about the discovery of lost hope. What's been the most "trouble" about making it - the personal training and boxing sessions at the gym or learning magic?
Fane says both come with their own challenges but there are similarities between a good right hook and a successful magic trick: "It's a one, two, three then the big wham! And you walk away."
Heto Ah Hi preparing to make magic with The Naked Samoans. Photo / Raymond Sagapolutele
They've had a pretty experienced magic teacher in Nina Nawalowalo, one of the co-founders of The Conch theatre company. Before she became the world's first Melanesian woman theatre director, bringing untold stories into the light and using theatre as a vehicle for social change, Nawalowalo had another life.
She left New Zealand in the 1990s to study mime in London where fellow students included Richard MacDougall and Paul Kieve. MacDougall is a world champion close-up magician and Kieve is the only illusionist to have won a New York Drama Desk Award (for Ghost the Musical) and helped craft special effects in Matilda - The Musical.
Nawalowalo spent six years touring and performing the world with MacDougall and, in 1994, received a prestigious comedy award from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Last year, she produced Magicians, which got her thinking about ways to add something new and novel into The Naked Samoans 20th anniversary show.
"Everyone loves magic," Nawalowalo says. "I think it's innately in us as human beings to be fascinated by what appears to be the unknown and the mysterious. It's such a lovely feeling to experience something magical."
When she was beginning her magical career, the Nakeds were also starting to enchant audiences. The group's 1998 debut production was called Naked Samoans Talk about Their Knives, the title a parody on the mega popular TV show of the day Topless Women Talk About Their Lives.
It was an instant hit, leading to several other productions and, eventually, bro'Town and Sione's Wedding. Now they're back in the theatre again to perform in the biggest venue they've ever played.
