The Naked Sāmoans delivers a hilarious, heartfelt reunion

It’s the long weekend, but I’m still recovering from The Last Temptation of the Naked Sāmoans, which I caught on Wednesday night. It was the final show of a sold-out season. I scored a solo ticket from the balcony, giving me a perfect audience view as everyone waited for the show to begin. I felt like I had the golden ticket and was grateful to secure a seat to see the legends of Pacific humour.

The crowd was alive, buzzing with conversation while island music played softly in the background. You might wonder, "Why so long, and recover from what?" But this was my first time seeing the Naked Sāmoans live, and what a rare treat it is to witness one of Pacific comedy’s original crews back in action. They are comedy royalty; I know they paved the way, and I might be a little biased, but can you tell how excited I am for the show?

As a teenager, I grew up watching Bro'Town, yelling out Morningside for Life, and quoting ‘peow peow’ jokes for a quick giggle. I was also a big fan of Sione’s Wedding. So even though this wasn’t Bro'Town, it had the same spirit and humour. It felt like that uniquely Pasifika comedy I grew up with - like a familiar bowl of supasuey, warm and comforting.

When else would I get the chance to see Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Robbie Magasiva, and Iaheto Ah Hi together on stage again? This reunion was something special. I already knew it was going to be a good night.

As the music faded and the chatter settled, the crowd erupted. Ah Hi opened the show with a solo dance performance, lying still on stage before coming to life with a choreography that had the audience cheering along to a Pacific instrumental. Then the lights went out.

Enter Kightley’s voice. One by one, a cast of petty offenders was introduced, all due for community service, and Jesus somehow joins the mix. It all makes sense in their world, weaving in the banter and jokes.

For a fleeting moment, I remembered the “last supper” drama attached to the show’s promotion, but that thought passed quickly. I was too busy basking in the brilliance of comedy royalty. The characters had quirky names and backstories, but their voices and mannerisms made me feel at home in Bro'Town and Sione’s Wedding. I know they were playing different characters, but if I closed my eyes, their voices alone were in character and could easily take me down a rabbit hole of comedic gold.

Magasiva played an islander who grew up in Australia, and he had me convinced - full ‘Strayaa so’o’ energy, dishing out lines like “Australia’s way better than New Zealand”. Portraying a gout-ridden character, Fane had us in stitches with one-liners and what looked like off-script antics. I swear he slapped Gaoa multiple times, soft but funny, and it felt off-script, which made it even funnier. Gaoa and Fane’s friendship reminded me of those subtle, mean jabs between close friends. The more roasts, the tighter they seemed to be. That made sense to me.

The plot, centred on a mismatched group of low-level offenders stranded in a church during a cyclone, kept me engaged, especially with spot-on jabs at the MetService and Civil Defence alerts - art imitating life. I laughed a little too hard at how relatable it was.

Before the storm of laughter - The Last Temptation of the Naked Sāmoans about to begin. Photo/PMN News Mary Afemata

Lelisi, playing a wannabe influencer and proud content creator with just three followers, was a crowd favourite - my favourite, actually. I know this was a completely new show, but his delivery was giving “Sefaaaaa” from Sione’s Wedding, in the best way. Then there’s Kightley, dressed in a suit, who brings structure to the chaos. He keeps the crowd laughing with his serious yet obvious roasts, which included his cyclone jokes I mentioned earlier.

One scene particularly highlights the satirical humour of the Naked Sāmoans. They came across a choir of white kids singing angelically, and one character says, "Someone should make a movie about this”, clearly referencing the recent Tinā film. Another line followed: "What about a soccer team that loses?" Another jab at Next Goal Wins.

Spoiler alert: someone had “poo-ey” undies in their bag, and Fane’s character tasted them to find out to whom they belonged. I could not keep a straight face, and though I laughed, I stopped midway out of disgust, only to be distracted by another joke.

Comedy royalty in action - The Naked Sāmoans bring the house down live on stage. Photo/PMN News Mary Afemata

Another spoiler: suffering from amnesia, Ah Hi’s character is thought to be Jesus - but is he or isn’t he? Shrouded in mystery from the beginning, his presence adds to the delightful chaos unfolding on stage. Known only as 'Bobus' to the others, his true identity unravels slowly, keeping the audience guessing. You’ll have to follow along to keep up with the intrigue and the brilliance of his performance.

One standout reference for me was Ah Hi with fish and bread. When they were stuck in the church during the cyclone, Ah Hi provided a loaf of bread, a tin of taiyo (canned fish), and a bottle of Best Foods mayo. It made perfect sense as a Pacific islander. There were also some other random items, which I found cheeky yet amusing. It was a combination that made it easy to wind down. No offence taken. What happens on stage stays on stage.

Among the chaos, jokes, and cultural references, the real magic of the Naked Sāmoans shone through. I felt like I was witnessing live history. Their chemistry, improv, and crowd work made it a night to remember. They know how to make you laugh while commenting on different topics to keep you on your toes.

This show was bold, cheeky, unfiltered, and full of heart. The Naked Sāmoans blend sharp satire, slapstick, and island-style banter in a hilarious and grounded way. As a first-time audience member, I wasn’t disappointed. They gave us a night of laughter, warmth, and unapologetically Pasifika brilliance.