Barry Humphries: The Untold Story

By P Cook

John Barry Humphries AO CBE, born in Kew, Melbourne, Australia on 17th February 1934 was an Australian comedian, actor, author, artist & satirist. He was best known for his stage and TV characters Dame Edna Everage & Sir Les Patterson. Biographer Anne Pender described Humphries 1957 2010, for his delivery of Dadaist and absurdist humour to millions, as not only 'the most significant theatrical figure of our time but the most significant comedian to emerge since Charlie Chaplin'. Barry's characters brought him international renown, having appeared in many stage productions, movies & TV shows. Originally conceived as a dowdy Moonee Ponds housewife who caricatured Australian suburban complacency and insularity, Dame Edna Everage evolved over 4 decades to become a satire of stardom - a gaudily dressed, acid-tongued, egomaniacal, internationally f ted 'Housewife Gigastar'. Humphries' other satirical characters included the 'priapic & inebriated cultural attach ' Sir Les Patterson, who 'continued to bring worldwide discredit upon Australian arts and culture, while contributing as much to the Australian vernacular as he's borrowed from it'; gentle, grandfatherly 'returned gentleman' Sandy Stone; iconoclastic '60s underground film-maker Martin Agrippa; Paddington socialist academic Neil Singleton; sleazy trade union official Lance Boyle; high-pressure art salesman Morrie O'Connor; failed tycoon Owen Steele & archetypal Australian bloke Barry McKenzie.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1447709195
• ISBN13: 9781447709190
• Release Date: May 2023
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Length: 164 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.8" x 8.3"