Although it hasn’t always been the case, Pacific Islanders are now a strong presence in New Zealand’s theatrical community. Samoans, be they Naked or Laughing, are one such contingent making waves in this country’s comedy scene. Jennifer Niven talks to Eteuati Ete to find out why the Laughing Samoans has been such a success story… 
WATCHING a video of Tofiga Fepulea’i perform a hula dance as ‘Aunty Tala,’ I’m forced to turn down the volume. Fepulea’i, one half of the Laughing Samoans, has squeezed his full figure into a big blue dress covered in Pacific Island flowers and is wiggling his hips energetically; the audience is in stitches, and wave upon wave of raucous hooting gets so loud the sound distorts through my speakers. Fepulea’i is the younger of the two comedians; his partner in crime Eteuati Ete says that while he’s “the straight one,” Fepulea’i is really “the funny one”. Ete is a comedic heavyweight in his own right, frequently interrupting our conversation with cheeky chat and hearty laughter.
Ete, from Vaoala, Samoa, moved to Wellington when he was 12, where he and Fepulea’i grew up as members of the Samoan Congregational Christian Church. In the early 1980s, Ete was one of the first Pacific Islanders to attend the New Zealand Drama School and was a founding member of the country’s first Pacific Island theatre group, Taotahi.
“It’s only now that I see so many Pacific Islanders involved in theatre and movies that I realise I was a pioneer. At the time it was something I just did it without ever thinking there was a barrier,” he says, “In my early career I was offered a lot of Maori roles. As there weren’t a lot of roles for Samoans, I ended up doing a lot of my own stuff.”
Ete says joining up with Fepulea’i was the beginning of his independence as a performer. It happened in 2003; Ete was planning a solo show and when the young Samoan approached him wanting to try his hand at stand up comedy, Ete invited Fepulea’i to open for him. Ete’s show was called Laughing with Samoans and when Fepulea’i got on stage, the magic started.
“He was supposed to do five minutes but he was so good it became 10, 15. It worked so well we decided to something together,” says Ete.
The show was so successful that people started referring to the pair as “the Laughing with Samoans guys” so they abbreviated and adopted the moniker and the Laughing Samoans was born.
Their next project was A Small Samoan Wedding, also a sell out success, and every year since the duo has written and performed new shows to eager audiences both nationally and internationally. In New Zealand they regularly sell out Auckland’s 2,500 seat Aotea Centre and overseas they’ve packed out venues in Australia, the Pacific Islands and the United States.
There doesn’t seem to be anyone who doesn’t like Pacific Island humour. It’s that loud giggling, silliness and friendly messing around you recognise when a group of Samoans gets together. The Laughing Samoans dress up, they dance and sing, and they tell their stories from a uniquely Samoan perspective, including their experiences coming to New Zealand and struggles with technology and the English language. They’ve found their style has broad appeal among white New Zealanders, Maori, Pacific Islanders and, well, everyone.
“New migrants especially find our comedy very funny. It’s very much ‘country cousin coming to meet the city cousin’. It’s those frictions and differences that make it funny,” says Ete, “Our success also comes from our sensitivity to Samoan culture. We’re always aware that kids, parents and grandparents will be there.”
Many of those audience members will recognise the stories. Ete says The Laughing Samoans draw on the personal experiences of their large circle of family and friends.
“There are always funny incidents and stories of comings and goings between New Zealand and Samoa,” he says, “We talk to people and they warn us, ‘none of this better go in your show!’”
Ete says a lot of people ask him whether Samoans are offended by what they do, but the answer is a categorical ‘no’.
“If a Samoan falls over, they are the first to laugh, and as long it’s not too bad it will be a great laugh for everybody around them,” chuckles Ete, “We often go back to Samoa, the ultimate test, and we sell out there.”
Now the Laughing Samoans are touring a new show, Funny Chokers, which sees the return of much-loved characters.
“It’s based on skits; we interact as two old men, then two young boys. There’s also Island Time, the children’s TV programme, Aunty Tala auditioning for the X Factor, and Suavi – he’s doing his Elvis impersonation for the finale.”
Ete agrees there is still a wealth of untapped material and with the success they’ve enjoyed thus far, there is also potential to keep the act going for years.
“Next year is our 10th anniversary. We’re going to do live shows for as long as we can,” says Ete, “I used to call my agent to ask about auditions every week. Now she hasn’t heard from me in eight years.”
Funny Chokers, Opera House, 8pm, February 11.