Tiddles
01-13-2008, 06:21 PM
Dame Edna Told By Doctors to Rest For Six Months
By REUTERS
Published: January 13, 2008
Filed at 12:14 p.m. ET
LONDON (Reuters) - Australian comic Barry Humphries has been ordered
to rest for six months because of complications over appendix surgery,
a spokesman for the Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival said
on Sunday.
Humphries, the creator of Australian characters Dame Edna Everage and
Sir Les Patterson, had his appendix removed at the end of December.
The enforced rest means Humphries, 73, has been forced to cancel a
North American tour -- due to start later this month -- as well as his
only British-scheduled appearance in Glasgow in March.
"He's going in for surgery this week as there have been
complications," a spokesman for the Glasgow International Comedy
Festival told Reuters. "He has been told by his doctors to take a six-
month rest."
Humphries, who was born in Melbourne, created the character of
housewife Edna Everage in 1955, teasing the suburbs for their morning
teas and social graces in caustic commentaries that left people unsure
whether to be embarrassed or to laugh.
Four years later Humphries left Australia, heading to London where he
appeared in numerous West End productions during the 1960s, including
the musicals "Oliver" and "Maggie May."
In the 1970s Humphries put Edna on the British stage, along with his
other satirical characters Barry McKenzie, the progenitor of Crocodile
Dundee, trade union con-man Lance Boyle, and Sir Les.
That was just the start of a string of productions in London that led
to Dame Edna -- she awarded herself the title in 1974 -- having her
own television talk shows, television specials and a series of books.
Humphries cracked the U.S. market in 2000, winning a Tony award for
the show "Dame Edna: The Royal Tour" on Broadway. He also appeared in
the U.S. television sitcom "Ally McBeal."
By REUTERS
Published: January 13, 2008
Filed at 12:14 p.m. ET
LONDON (Reuters) - Australian comic Barry Humphries has been ordered
to rest for six months because of complications over appendix surgery,
a spokesman for the Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival said
on Sunday.
Humphries, the creator of Australian characters Dame Edna Everage and
Sir Les Patterson, had his appendix removed at the end of December.
The enforced rest means Humphries, 73, has been forced to cancel a
North American tour -- due to start later this month -- as well as his
only British-scheduled appearance in Glasgow in March.
"He's going in for surgery this week as there have been
complications," a spokesman for the Glasgow International Comedy
Festival told Reuters. "He has been told by his doctors to take a six-
month rest."
Humphries, who was born in Melbourne, created the character of
housewife Edna Everage in 1955, teasing the suburbs for their morning
teas and social graces in caustic commentaries that left people unsure
whether to be embarrassed or to laugh.
Four years later Humphries left Australia, heading to London where he
appeared in numerous West End productions during the 1960s, including
the musicals "Oliver" and "Maggie May."
In the 1970s Humphries put Edna on the British stage, along with his
other satirical characters Barry McKenzie, the progenitor of Crocodile
Dundee, trade union con-man Lance Boyle, and Sir Les.
That was just the start of a string of productions in London that led
to Dame Edna -- she awarded herself the title in 1974 -- having her
own television talk shows, television specials and a series of books.
Humphries cracked the U.S. market in 2000, winning a Tony award for
the show "Dame Edna: The Royal Tour" on Broadway. He also appeared in
the U.S. television sitcom "Ally McBeal."