Theatre and Dance Previews

Since 1969, 'SCOOBY DOO, the cowardly dog with a huge appetite, and his owner Shaggy - plus friends Fred, Daphne and Velma - have kept us all entertained as they travel around in their van, 'The Mystery Machine'. Together they solve mysteries and battle monsters and ghoulies! Only to find out that the man responsible was someone that they knew all along!

There were some 310 episodes made of the classic cartoon series but now the characters that we all know and love can be see live on stage!

This month they arrive in High Wycombe and, in eager anticipation, I managed to track down my childhood hero - the beatnik hippie with the large appetite and strange clothes - the legend that is SHAGGY. This is what happened!

I understand you're in the UK at the moment doing a tour of a stage show, can you tell me a bit about it?

Shaggy: Well man, the entire gang has come all the way over to put on a show about one of our adventures that we took one time which is when all the gang decided to go on vacation to visit Daphne's uncle. We always seem to start out on vacation but end up going to solve a mystery - not my favourite thing to do but hey - you know what - Fred drives the van and he's my ride.

So, we're going to visit Daphne's uncle and accidentally we come across a massive mystery because Daphne's uncle is a movie director and during his directing at the Clawhammer studios, there's some sort of a spooky spectre that's going to keep causing problems because the film can't get finished, so we have to make sure that we try to figure out who he or she is and solve the mystery.

So once again you try and go on holiday and you get involved in a mystery?

Shaggy: Aahh yes - it always happens that way!

So this show has got all the characters that we know and love in it has it?

Shaggy: Yeah - Fred, Daphne, Velma, Scooby - we're all there!

But no Scrappy I hear?

Shaggy: No Scrappy Doo no - he's on vacation.

Probably a good thing I think! Now Shaggy, do you enjoy being on the stage?

Shaggy: I sure do man, I wouldn't have it any other way! Although actually, I think I'd rather be in a restaurant or a buffet!

Well, you're known for having quite a large appetite, but you never seem to put any weight on?!

Shaggy: That's because we're constantly running from ghosts. We get a lot of physical activity and a lot of cardio when we're out getting chased by monsters and ghouls!

And this is a family show is it?

Shaggy: Sure is man! You can bring anybody, kids from 3 years to 50!

How did you get into all this mystery solving business, did it just happen?

Shaggy: Well we all became a group of friends together. Fred drives the Mystery Machine and we met at the local burger joint back where we're from and we were all sort of amazed by Fred's van and Velma loves to solve mysteries more than anything in the world and we just started hanging out together and we like to take trips to go and visit things and do lots of sightseeing but it just always happens that there's a mystery to be solved! If I had my choice, there wouldn't be any mystery solving man, it would just be sightseeing and eating!

You always seem to get very scared by the ghostly goings on, aren't you used to it by now?

Shaggy: No way man! I tell you what, every time we go somewhere it seems like the people that we meet are spooked by some sort of a creepy creature and that just makes me spooked because if they're scared, then there's got to be a reason!

Yes - but haven't you realised by now that it's always the bloke you meet in the first few minutes?!

Shaggy: [laughs] All I can say is that those creepy creatures are scaring people enough to make them need help - it makes me think that it's real man! They think it's real and so do I but we never really realise it until just at the very end! But, you know, maybe it's because Scoob and I are still so young we just haven't figured it out?!

Do you get upset when people call you meddlin' or pesky?

Shaggy: No man! I think it's ironic that everybody says the same thing though, don't you?!

Very true?! How's Scooby then?

Shaggy: Oh he's great. He loves being in the UK man! He's been the first one to try out every single food before we've even had a chance to pay for it. He loves your pasties! He can take down about four or five of those things at one giant chomp! And so can I!

I must ask a couple of things about your friends? Velma always seems to be a bit annoying doesn't she?

Shaggy: [laughs] I wouldn't call her annoying - she means well! Without Velma I honestly don't think we'd find out what's going on! Velma always seems to accidentally get captured which leads to us finding out who got her, And there's Fred too - Fred always comes up with plans! They might not always work but without Velma, as I say, she always seems to be the one that solves the crime!

What about Fred and Daphne then, is there anything going on there?

Shaggy: Oohh man - maybe if you come and see the show you'll find out!

That's a good incentive! Finally then, why should people come and see the show!

Shaggy: Because man - Scooby Doo has been around for as long as you can remember and if you've seen it then and you see it now you'll remember all those things that made you love it from the very first time you saw it. And kids who maybe haven't seen the show, they can come and they'll still enjoy it too because it's just great, good time fun!