DAME EDNA’S GLORIOUS GOODBYE – THE FAREWELL TOUR

I very rarely write the review immediately after a show’s opening night, but I’m still so excited about this one that I don’t want to spare even one minute before telling you Angelenos to run this very second to see the fabulous Dame Edna at the Ahmanson Theatre! And, if you need someone to go with, take me! I could see her every night! (And here’s an even bigger recommendation—Dame Edna is actually the one performer who Mr. X doesn’t squawk about going to see! My mother loved her, too. Anyone with a good sense of humor does!)

A few years ago, Mr. X and I used to go to private screenings every Sunday. Even though it was only fifty-three seats, and everyone was a friend of the owner of the room, it was not a cohesive group. We all couldn’t leave fast enough when each film was over. But, at the end of Toy Story 2, Mr. X stopped me, and told me to look around. Everyone was smiling and mingling! He pointed-out that that’s the power of comedy. And Dame Edna’s shows always demonstrate that power, in spades! (So much so that we were all equally happy going in! I just wish I had worn my pink boa! I mean it!)

Your soul needs to see this show. Laughing is the best thing for every single person on earth, and that’s what you’ll do for the entire duration. (Maybe you should all strap on some Depends. She’s that funny!) [Note #1: I swear—a couple of hours after I wrote that last aside, (which I wrote before I even saw Dame Edna this time,) Mr. X asked if we were going to go buy some Depends for the show!!! He knows!]

There’s not much you need to know about Dame Edna’s Glorious Goodbye going in. This new touring show of hers is as funny as they’ve all been. (I’ve seen a handful of her past shows, and will never miss one in the future.)

If you’ve never heard of the glorious Dame Edna, I can’t even imagine where you’ve been for all these years! And if you have, you know what type of wonderful evening you’re in for. Just in case you’re one of the nescients, though, I’m here to help you right now.

Dame Edna is actually an Aussie man, Barry Humphries. (I don’t think I’m spoiling that for anyone.) But the character, (and to me, the real person,) is Edna Everage, an outspoken, brassy, glamour-puss with purple (or sometimes pink) hair and crazy outfits, jewelry, and eyeglasses. She’s an absolute hoot. She’s the only person I ever opted to do Standing Room Only for on Broadway, even though I have trouble standing. But I just could not pass up any opportunity for such a mirthful experience.

I can’t even remember how long I’ve been a fan. I panicked a few years ago when she did her “Farewell Tour.” I could not imagine a life where I would never get to hear her bon mots ever again. But now she’s back for her “Glorious Goodbye,” which cracked me up just reading that title. (When I excitedly told Mr. X that we were going to her opening night, he asked, “Didn’t we see her farewell show a few years ago?”) That whole concept makes me love her even more!

She chats with people in the first two rows, so, please, if you’re a boring person like the lummoxes she unfortunately choose in the opening night audience, buy tickets a bit further back. You don’t have to be that interesting; Dame Edna does the heavy lifting. But–puh-leaze–at least know how to say your own name! [Note #2: Our seats were perfect! We were in the first half of the orchestra, but not in the first three rows. Although, Mr. X said she would have been lucky if I had been closer. I guess he’d like to have all our secrets spilled!]

Just try not to sit in the balcony if you don’t want to be abused. (In a fabulous way, of course.) (Clue: I’ve, unfortunately, been one of her “paupers” two times, and I think it scarred me for life!)

There’s not much more to say about Dame Edna’s Glorious Goodbye. It’s as brilliant, riotous, and charming as ever. Since she makes a lot of it up as she goes along, depending on the vibe of the audience, the show is a bit different each night. For example, on opening night, one woman was very rudely reading her program…during the show! In the third row!!! Dame Edna gave it to her good, but in a delightful way. That episode made my heart sing.

Not that anyone normal would think of leaving early, (as people always annoyingly do in New York, to “beat the traffic,”) but if you do, you’ll miss a few really fun surprises at the end. Some of them have been done in Edna’s previous shows, but they’ve been upgraded this time.

And her use of vocabulary, and the way she puts the emphasis on certain syllables of some words, shows her genius even more. I love this woman! (And, of course the brilliant man behind her, the aforementioned Barry Humphries.)

Speaking of him, I have to tell you one thing about Mr. Humphries, that’s still shocking to me. I met him several years ago, at the after-party for another of his opening nights. (Sadly, the Ahmanson doesn’t do parties anymore; shame, because I would have loved to chat with him again.) I went up to tell him how much I love him, and he was perhaps the quietest person I’ve ever met! He softly asked me where I live, (which, I just realized after all this time, is exactly what Dame Edna does! But this was sooo different.) I couldn’t have been more surprised at the conversation! Then he told me he had been in my neighborhood once or twice before, and it was “quite charming.” He mentioned he had lived near me a few years prior. There was not even one tiny hint that this sweet man was the flamboyant, larger-than-life, brilliant, comic genius Dame Edna! If he had been a guest on a game show where panelists guess the vocation, he would have totally stumped them!!!

I’m just really praying that this is not really Dame Edna’s “Glorious Goodbye,” and that we’ll see her here in LA many more times. But if it truly is her farewell, she definitely went out with a big bang!!!

[Note #3: Since I’m rushing on the writing of this review to get it published quickly, I’m sure I’ve forgotten something that I wanted to to tell you about
Dame Edna’s Glorious Goodbye. So, just like her shows that are fun to see multiple times because it’s always a bit different, you may have to check back to this review every now and then in the next day or two to see if I added anything.]

Dame Edna’s Glorious Goodbye running through March 15, 2015
Ahmanson Theatre  135 N. Grand Ave.  213-972-4400 www.centertheatregroup.org