Who invented character comedy? Was it Graham Fellows with John Shuttleworth? Steve Coogan with Alan Partridge, Paul Calf et al? A strong case can be made for Barry Humphries, whose show at the Palladium ends with a video cavalcade featuring all sorts of Humphries creations that I'd never even come across, from hairy hippies to socialist academic, Neil Singleton. Of course there were stage-based comedy characters before Humphries such as Arthur Lucan's Old Mother Riley, but Edna Everage seems to bridge the gap perfectly bewteen muscial hall drag artists and modern post alt-comedy comedians. Edna has threatened that this latest UK tour which is currently at The Palladium will be the Dame's last fling, but somehow I doubt it. Particularly after the rave reviews the show has received. This review below originally ran in the London Evening Standard. The show runs until Jan 5 and then it goes on tour, ticket details here.
If you are going to hang up your frock this is a pretty good way to bow out. Barry Humphries' farewell show features special effects, pathos, dancing, vulgarity wit and, at its heart, a 79-year-old legend in a dress.
Dazzling is the only word that springs to mind. Actually 'umbrella' also springs to mind. If you have tickets for the front take cover when Humphries' cultural attache Les Patterson opens proceedings by drooling, expectorating and dribbling over his devotees. These days Patterson fancies himself as “Australia's answer to Nigella Lawson” and delivers a cooking demonstration with a garnish of cartoon sexism and racism, calling Poland “the Marie Celeste of Europe”.
While one would not touch his phlegm-flecked barbie rissoles with a bargepole this is a tasty start to the evening. Patterson is followed by a quick change into Gerard, a priest with questionable morals and a ghostly Sandy Stone, mourning his own passing before disappearing heavenwards.
After the interval it was time for Dame Edna. If a few gags were well-worn the withering lip curl hammered home punchlines about plebs in the cheap seats or her daughter's “vagina decliner” chums. An onstage spot of matchmaking between two mismatched fans produced plenty of hilariously squirm-inducing comedy. It may have been cheesy but it was Rocquefort rather than Cheddar.
And then, after an impressively energetic song and dance the housewife superstar was replaced by a moving video retrospective and then Humphries as himself, taking a richly deserved bow. If Edna does retire to cultivate her gladioli back in Moonee Ponds this show is conclusive proof that there really is nothing like this Dame.
