What's it all about - Dame Edna?

Posted: 9/9/04 at 12:12pm

Saw her new show last night - I don't get the appeal. It was like "Joan Rivers" meets the Psychic Freinds Network. Plus - there is dish out at intermission that the old dame had to pay her hotel in advance, because she skipped out on a bill when in town once before. Does anyone have similar feelings here? I don't see how this can possibly sustain on Broadway if she gets there.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 12:15pm

uh oh...where's redhot??

Honestly, I saw her on Broadway last time and I howled from start to finish.

[Corine2]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 12:17pm

Dame Edna is very big in England, Australia and New York.
Did she wave gladiolas?
I love Dame. I am soooooooooooooo jealous. Wish I could afford to hop a plane, Possum! Updated On: 9/9/04 at 12:17 PM

Posted: 9/9/04 at 12:23pm

Everyone in the audience had gladdies. Don't get me wrong - she was funny, but if you have seen her show before, it's all very familiar.

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 12:24pm

Corine... she'll be here soon... November, i believe...

and, yes, where is redhot? isn't he done with that banana yet???

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 12:24pm

"Dame Edna's Royal Tour" ran for 300 performances here a few years ago and was a huge critical and box office success and received a Special Tony Award (it was one of the most successful runs for a solo show in Broadway history). I saw it twice and everyone I know went multiple times and we all were of the opinion that it was one of the funniest things we'd seen in years and can't wait for the new show to get here (at least a dozen people I know have the date tickets go on sale circled on their calendars).

Sorry you didn't like it, but Dame Edna has a huge fan base here (and I think that hotel story is utter crap by the way -- Edna's last tour grossed several million dollars according to Variety so I hardly think that there was any skipping out on hotel bills). I for one can't wait till she gets here.

Posted: 9/9/04 at 12:42pm

Actually Margo, the hotel thing is not utter crap according to Chip Conley, the owner of the W Hotel which Barry Humphries skipped out on. They were in litigation for a good six months before the producers of the show at that time made good. This was mind you, before the "Royal Tour" and the dame was in town to promote her TV show that had just been picked up for local cable. I have no doubt that Edna has a huge fan base, I consider myself a fan - all I meant is it needs a little work and some new material.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 12:49pm

BEFORE the Royal Tour? God, how many years ago was this, because the Royal Tour opened here in the Fall of 1999....

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 12:51pm

I'm HERE, Possums!!!!! (joeyjoe - it was a BIG banana...LOL)...I cannot imagine anyone not finding the Dame hilarious, but obviously - to each his or her own. I found her to be simply mezmerizing when she was in town last, and I cannot wait to be subjected to her divine properties once again!

Posted: 9/9/04 at 1:09pm

It was probably the single most hysterical evening I have ever had in the theatre. I laughed so hard I did not have to do cruches for a week!

[junglered]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 1:40pm

I loved Dame Edna's last show and am glad that she is coming back to Broadway. Barry Humphries is a scream!

[beacon1]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 2:29pm

When she calls us "Possums" I just die laughing. Dame Edna is awesome!

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 2:36pm

Well Possums, here are a few reviews!

http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=41663&CT=38

I love Dame Edna. And let's not forget, the show will probably go through a lot of changes before hitting B'way. I was reading that she is trying out the new stuff and tweaking it to see what will work for B'way in San Fran.

Also, word around Denver when she/he was here is that Mr. Humphries can be a bit "difficult".

Posted: 9/9/04 at 2:45pm

Just out of curiosity, if the producers were the ones in this litigation, why is Humphries the one whoose name is being dragged through the mud?

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 2:53pm

Maybe because "the show" books the accomodations but Mr. Humphries was the one who caused the problem? That's what I would assume. Just a guess.

[Corine2]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 3:01pm

Joey-
I know first day is November 5th. I will be there!

[alterego]

Posted: 9/11/04 at 1:34am

I never heard that Barry Humphries is difficult.The Edna Everage (she seems to have dropped the surname)character was born at the time of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in a review in which Edna was extolling the virtues of billeting visiting Olympians.

In later years she struck out on her own in shows with such titles as A Load Of Olde Stuff, As Least You Can Say You've Seen It and Housewife Superstar.Whatever, they are always good fun.I recall one show having signs in the theatre foyer saying things like"for braille programs see the usher","have your ears pierced while you wait" and at another the usherettes sprayed your seat with disinfectant before you sat down. She has been using the gladdie finale for years now but I can recall at one show bouncing huge orange beach balls over our heads in the all audience singing finale.I think in these days when everyone is so politically correct Edna says what we all want to say but can't and that's why we laugh so much.

[Jon]

Posted: 9/11/04 at 9:30am

I recall she was billed as "Dame Edna Everage" for her series of guest star appearances on ALLY McBEAL.

[pattifan2]

Posted: 9/11/04 at 11:57am

I've been a fan of Edna's for years. I have seen a couple of her very early shows here on tour in the UK. The last one I saw, she came onstage in black mourning dress and veil etc as her husband, Norm had just passed away. She is really hysterically funny and the gladioli thing is something she's always done at the end of her shows. She had a series of shows on BBC2 nearly 30 years ago and then did the Saturday evening shows for London Weekend Television which were basically chat shows where she humiliated the guests. She'd have them walk down a huge staircase onto the set, occasionally pulling a lever and turning the staircase into a slide and the 'guest' (stuntman/woman) would fall off-stage, breaking an arm or something and appear later for the interview with their arm in plaster. I think the guests included Roger Moore, Zsa Zsa Gabor and definitely Charlton Heston. When she talked to him about playing Moses, she added that he wouldn't be parting her red sea that night! Brilliant. I have a videotaped programme she did, 'An Audience With Dame Edna' in which she had a 'celebrity' audience who got to ask her questions. Her put-downs were fantastic eg 'Tell me the history of that frock....it's obviously an old furnishing fabric....you were very wise to remove the curtain rings'. She always had her 'bridesmaid' Madge Alsop onstage with her. Did this happen in her shows in the US? Sorry this post has gone on a little, but I thought it might be of interest to the Edna fans across the pond.

[Jon]

Posted: 9/11/04 at 1:27pm

For the Broadway show, the ancient "bridesmaid" appeared on a video before the show, instructing the audience about turning off cell phones, not taking pictures, etc. The old lady made gestures like a flight attendant pointing out the emergency exits on a plane while the voice of Edna narrated.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 10:34am

Madge Alsop is too ill to travel and so appeared on video.

Have known Barry for years - have NEVER known him to be difficult in anyway to anyone. People who work with him over the years (and they tend to... for years) love him. Where do these rumours start?