AK03: A bit out of the bag

By CATHRIN SCHAER

There are a lot of things that television and radio personalities Mikey Havoc and Jeremy "Newsboy" Wells don't take at all seriously. It's in the Bag is not one of them.

The troublesome duo will be presenting their version of the iconic New Zealand gameshow onstage during the Auckland Festival.

"We've always been huge admirers of this show," says Havoc. "I think it would be really rude if we didn't give this the dignity and sophistication and air of grandeur it deserves.

"We're taking this very, very seriously. Very seriously indeed."

Apparently, this century's new hosts, Havoc and Newsboy, got involved because of a few light-hearted comments made about how much fun it would be to revive the old game show.

These comments were made in the presence of Simon Prast, director of AK03, Auckland's arts festival.

"I saw him out somewhere and he said to me, 'Will you do it?'," says Havoc. "And I said, 'Yeah sure, whatever. Ha ha.' And then he put it in the programme."

Which was when the odd couple realised they had better come up with a plan for their first theatre show.

"Yes, it's somewhat of a dream come true. But it's more like the kind of dream you have when you have a 45-minute sleep in the afternoon, not like a long night-time dream," Wells muses. "It's more like a little daydream."

"You do wake up in a sweat from those," Havoc adds knowingly.

"There's always apprehension taking on such a major project," Wells says seriously. "It's just, um ... "

" ... awe-inspiring?" Havoc helpfully finishes his sentence.

Interestingly, the show comes with the rider: "Will Contain Adult Themes".

Havoc explains the PG rating away. "The warning is really just that it's adult material. It's just to say that, well, kids would just be bored really."

"Do people really feel that about us?" a mildly troubled Wells asks. "Actually I think we are being completely respectful. And anyway, is there something about cultural icons that says you're not allowed to make fun of them? No, surely not. Not in New Zealand."

Havoc: "I mean, you have to realise that it's harder to entertain people these days. Selwyn Toogood could stand on a stage alone and get 3000 people to cheer just by walking on. These days you'd be hard pressed to get enough people lining up for a telethon.

"So the show has to be fantastic in itself. And that's what we've thought about: how to keep the format but how to embellish it, give it our whack, so the audience think it's worth sitting there for an hour and a half."

And the rest is top secret. That's just about all that Havoc or Wells will say about what's actually going to happen during the four shows.

What they will reveal is that to prepare, they watched several old episodes of It's in the Bag. "Bulls, 1974 and Porirua, 1976," Wells interjects knowledgeably.

And they can also divulge that there are 25 people working on this theatrical masterpiece and that it won't be filmed. They can also tell us that they are staying fairly true to tradition.

This even means having the traditional whiteware from Fisher and Paykel to give away.

"Fisher and Paykel were always involved with the show and they told us they just couldn't not be involved again," Havoc grins, "which I think is really nice."

Other fabulous prizes will include a very glamorous leaf-blower and exotic overseas travel.

You mean a trip to Sydney?

"No, no, at least nine to 10 hours flying time away," Havoc says, although he won't reveal the exact exact holiday destination.

As for the booby prizes, strong contenders include a bus ticket and a sock.

The identities of any special acts or guests - and there will apparently be plenty appearing during the shows - remain shrouded in mystery.

Sadly, Selwyn Toogood passed away in 2001. But Tineke Stevenson, his long-time glamorous assistant, who is alive and well and living in Tauranga, may or may not appear. Although Wells is generally considered to be the prettier half of the Havoc/Newsboy team, he says he could never replace Stevenson.

"I could never be as beautiful," he protests.

"Or tender," Havoc says.

"Or strikingly Nordic," Wells adds.

The two have no doubt about the show's relevance to a young, modern audience.

"If we can bring back just a little bit of that community feeling among the audience, then we will have achieved something," Wells says.

"Yes, we'd like to bring a bit of community back to the table," Havoc adds.

"Yes, it's like a pot luck for the community," says Wells, deadpan. "I will bring the community casserole ... "

"And I will bring the community salad," Havoc smirks.

* It's in the Bag, St James, Monday September 29 to Thursday October 2.

Herald Feature: Auckland Festival AK03

Auckland Festival website