Very, very, very funny and incredibly well-read man.
Many happy memories of seeing him in HK in 1995
With Clive James, Germaine Greer and Robert Hughes
Part of that amazing group of Aussies who gave so enriched
the UK’s cultural life. Only Gg left now.
Know he’d been ill but thought he was on the mend.
2023 is fast becoming 2016 all over again
A great loss. I was very fond of Les Patterson. There was a man of refinement to live up to.
Both Dame Edna and Sir Les have given me many, many laughs.
A sad loss though not unexpected. His achievements are huge and varied but this is just a small example of his brilliant comic timing.
One of the very best. RIP.
A rule everyone learned at his shows – don’t turn up late.
Studied fine arts. Saw a wonderful small sculpture made from dining forks at a gallery once.
Also don’t sit in the front row and don’t leave your mobile phone turned on
RIP Baz.
My favourite YT clip – 4:06 for a huge belly laugh.
https://youtu.be/nW7HLqOgM20
Very good…
Hilarious clip, MiketheP. And hats off to k.d. lang or being such a great foil to Dame Edna.
RIP, Rolf is still alive though….
Don’t think Rolf’s artistic chops came anywhere near those of Robert Hughes
Just remembered, the late Mrs P and I took her sister to a Dame Edna gig for a birthday treat. Sis sat stony-faced throughout the whole show, complete SOH failure. There were 3 Irish nuns in the row in front who were absolutely pissing themselves, even the bluer bits.
A friend suggested he was the most significant cultural figure in Australia in the last 50 years. On reflection, I agree.
I remember crying with laughter at The Adventures of Barry McKenzie back in the day.
An absolute comedy genius. Saw one of his Drury Lane shows back in the 80s – up there as one of the two or three funniest nights I’ve ever spent in a theatre.
He was so magnificently quick-witted. There are hours of fun to be had watching Dame Edna’s shows. The most unlikely guests would appear.
Mary Whitehouse
QE2
Graham Norton
Donald and Ivana Trump
Dame Edna, Joan Rivers, and Crowded House:
My favourite story concerning Barry goes way back to when he was in High School.
It was a school rule that all students had to attend a football game that Barry had no interest in. So as a form of protest he sat in the crowd with his back to the game…knitting.
Pretty sure that BH was first to do the gag involving putting fruit salad in an airline sick bag and eating it after pretending to chunder after take-off
I believe it was potato salad though, more vomit looking.
A friend went to a Dame Edna book signing.
As I remember it it was Russian salad – peas, carrots, etc…
That’d be it.
I heard vegetable soup. Diced carrots are essential.
Heinz sandwich spread I’ve now just seen.
Beat me to it.
Amazed to find they still make and sell the stuff
Which basically was vomit
The Times obit also cites Russian salad although omits the airline bag
He’d previously put the Russian salad/sandwich spread/tins of soup* on pavements in Melbourne then came along later dressed as a gentleman of the road take a spoon from his top pocket and eat it from the pavement to the disgust of passers-by. * delete as you think fit.
https://www.theoldie.co.uk/article/the-consummate-amateur
My father was also one of that generation of Aussies who, post-war, looked to the wider world to broaden their career horizons, though his was a career in engineering rather than entertainment. He couldn’t stand Barry Humphries, cause he disliked the portrayal of his home country. Now I think about it, I’m not sure my father ever got satire.
Clive James interviews Peter Cook and Barry Humphries: from 1987.
The Fat for Britain anecdote is hilarious.
Here’s a favourite scene from the Barry Mackenzie movie.
Just stumbled across this Aussie TV special @Jaygee.
Lots to enjoy here. Not least that Munch-inspired frock.
@Kaisfatdad
Cheers, K. Shall give that a whirl while I’m on the rowing machine