FAREWELL POSSUMS

DAME EDNA SAYS “FAREWELL POSSUMS”AS BARRY HUMPHRIES TAKES A FINAL BOW

Paul Dainty, Chairman of Dainty Group announced today (March 19, 2012) that iconic performer, satirist, artist and comedian Barry Humphries – will take his final bow to Australian audiences during his farewell tour, Eat Pray Laugh!.

Humphries, whose alter egos include the Honorable Sir Les Patterson, and Moonee Ponds’ legendary housewife, Dame Edna Everage, will perform a limited number of farewell shows from June to August this year at theatres in Canberra, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

While his famous creations are not officially retiring, Australia’s greatest Dame insists that this will be her final tour.

“So, Possums, please do come and say goodbye to me. It would be lovely to see your faces for the last time,” Dame Edna says.

“When you hear your grandchild's voice saying, ‘Grandma, did you see Dame Edna's farewell show?’ don't betray their faith in you. Say ‘yes darling! Many, many times!’”

During the all-singing, all-dancing spectacular, Dame Edna promises to “empower” audiences as she meditates on the big issues of gender, ethnicity and climate change.

“You will see me at the height of my powers, taking you on a wonderful spiritual journey you'll never forget. I'm not saying my show will heal you, but you'll certainly leave the theatre feeling considerably better for the experience.”

While Act One of Eat Pray Laugh! features Humphries with his friends, this really serves as “just a bit of foreplay really before I make an orgasmic appearance in Act Two”, Dame Edna says.

“Dame Edna insists that we do this final tour to farewell our many friends in Australia,” Humphries says. “She has toured the world since the mid 1950s and she is ready to kick off her heels and tend to her gladiolas.”

This brand new show is directed by Simon Phillips.

Educated in at the University of Melbourne, where he studied law, philosophy and fine arts, Barry Humphries performed regularly in university revues before joining the newly formed Melbourne Theatre Company.

In 1955, he created the remarkable Mrs Edna Everage, a purple-rinsed Melbourne housewife now known around the world as the gigastar Dame Edna. Dame Edna has since appeared on stage during theatrical tours of Europe, the US and the Middle East. Humphries won a special Tony Award for his 2000 Broadway offering Dame Edna, The Royal Tour and a Tony nomination in 2004 for Back with a Vengeance.

Dame Edna has also appeared regularly on television in Australia, the UK, Europe and the US, winning Humphries the Golden Rose of Montreux in 1991.

Her creator has also won numerous honours for his contribution to cultural life, including an Order of Australia in 1982, an Honorary Doctorate of Griffith University (Australia) in 1994, a Doctorate of Law from Melbourne University in 2003 and a CBE for his contribution to the arts in 2007. He was recently presented with the Australian of the Year in the United Kingdom award at Australia House in London.

Still, Stage Whispers wonders if Dame Edna will follow in the footsteps of that other great Australian Intrenational Diva, Dame Nellie Melba - will this be just the first farewell tour? Only time will tell.

Critics rave: "It's meant to be excellent." (Camberwell Free Press)

Article from the media release.

CANBERRA

Canberra Theatre Centre

Friday 22 June – Sunday 24 June

canberratheatrecentre.com.au/ (02) 6275 2700

NEWCASTLE

Civic Theatre

Friday 29 June – Sunday 1 July

ticketek.com.au/ 132 849

SYDNEY

Capitol Theatre