SomethingToDo2

Like controversial American comedian Bill Hicks, Barry Humphries knew from an early age he was destined for greater things, and this is part of what makes One Man Show such an interesting book to read.

Despite the abundance of material, it could not have been easy to write the biography of the man who pioneered gladioli waving and coined the phrase “dry as a dead dingo’s donger”, but Anne Pender has done it well. With an incredible understanding of Humphries’ comedy and of the man himself, Pender presents an unbiased, behind-the-scenes account of his career and equally turbulent personal life.

We travel from the early days of cruel, drunken pranks and Humphries’ obsession with the “lurid and grotesque”, which manifested itself in the failed publication Bizarre; through to the newly sober Humphries, delivering possibly the world’s best acceptance speech for an honourary doctorate as Sir Les Patterson; finishing up with his stint as a judge in I’d Do Anything (a reality show where people audition for a part in Lionel Bart’s production of Oliver).

This biography is perfect for anyone with any interest in Australian comedy, theatre, or simply in “The Lady Himself”.

*Dani Solomon has eight years of experience in libraries and bookshops and is currently working as a bookseller at Readings.