Australian stage and screen icon Barry Humphries has died aged 89 - ABC News

Comic genius and one of Australias most sophisticated characters 

 

 

Huge fan. Like everyone else. Saw him in Tears Before Bedtime. A touch more personal coming from Melbourne. Hearing Sandy Stone talk about Camberwell or Dame Edna in Moonee Ponds. 

Very sad. Barry was a true icon of Australian comedy.

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/apr/22/barry-humphries-dies-australian-comedian-death-dead-dame-edna-everage-sir-les-patterson

44 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Very sad. Barry was a true icon of Australian comedy.

With no holds barred. I saw one of his shows decades ago in Adelaide, packed house. He 'assaulted' many audience members.

 

It was winter time, he got one lady in the front row to take off her overcoat, shook it, the planned spotlights showd a stream of dust going up into the ceiling.

 

Dame Edna stood over the woman and screamed into the microphone "YOU ARE THE DIRTIEST FILTHIEST BITCH I HAVE EVER MET, GET OUT". The audience lady ignored him, but Dame Edna insisted with a further comment "HOW MANY ARYLICS DID YOU MURDER TO MAKE THIS PIECE OF UGLY RAG YOU CALL A COAT. HOW LOW CLASS ARE YOU?"

 

Dame Edna then proceeded to throw the coat out into the audience over the heads of about 5 rows of seats. Then sceamed into the microphne' 'IT'S INFECTED, IT'S FULL OF DEADLY GERMS, IF YOU DON'T QUICKLY THROW IT BACK TO ME I WILL HAVE YOU ESCORTD TO THE END OF THE ROW AND STRIPPED AND BUG SPRAYED".People threw it back quickly.

 

Best show I have ever attended, I went with friends to a restaurant after the show, we laughed for hours. I went home and couldn't sleep that night. Too wound up. 

How can a simple fall at home can end up in death, the man has lived a full life by making millions laugh and enjoy his many characters played on stage, an icon of the entertainment's world, his talent will be surly missed.

No doubt the he/she personas would outrage some these days.

Brilliant man who kept his characters alive.

RIP Sir.????????

4 hours ago, Lucky Bones said:

No doubt the he/she personas would outrage some these days.

Brilliant man who kept his characters alive.

RIP Sir.????????

I was lucky enough to meet him backstage after his wondrful show and after all the curtain calls, and the audience had gone.

 

He had quickly removed his make up, showered and was in male street clothes. 

 

No act, just a gentle masculine guy attending to coffee, pies and sandwiches for his quite large crew.

 

I was with a group of 3 he had invited back stage, no more. he made us feel very welcome, nothing over the top, he ensured we had coffe/tea, snacks then sat with up and asked everybody 'how was your day'. No focus on himself. All the time checking that his crew were relaxing, had drinks/snacks etc.  

A sad week down under.

First Father Bob McGuire, now Bazza.

 

RIP to two absolute Legends.

Just the best.  Very sad.

16 hours ago, proton said:

Comic genius and one of Australias most sophisticated characters 

 

 

Great clip, many thanks..........and what he got away with back then was amazing!! Its a wonder some "folks" haven't called for his shows to be deleted! I thought he was great.