The Australian character comic and actor has died aged 89. In remembrance, Judi Herman looks back at her experience with the great man
I was saddened at the recent death of Barry Humphries, a consummate, warm and witty performer. Born in Melbourne in 1934, it was always evident that Humphries – who would dress up as various characters at a young age to entertain his parents and their friends – would grow up to grace the stage. As well as his most renowned act, the magnificent Dame Edna Everage, he is also known for playing the uncouth Sir Les Patterson, and various film, TV and theatre roles.
Dame Edna Everage in Sydney, 2012
In July 2018, Humphries presented Weimar Cabaret with fellow Aussie and cabaret performer Meow Meow (Melissa Madden Gray) and the Aurora Orchestra, which easily earned a five-star review (read it here). I was lucky enough to speak to both of the artists for JR OutLoud (listen here) at the Barbican ahead of the opening and was bowled over by Humphries' warmth, erudition and huge enthusiasm for the music the Nazis dubbed ‘degenerate’. He explained how so many of the mainly Jewish makers of this music, fleeing pre-war Mitteleuropa, reached Melbourne in search of sanctuary. They brought so much with them to enrich the culture of their new home – the same home where teenage Humphries hunted down their gramophone records and sheet music. He shared stories too of meetings with remarkable men (Russian Jewish composer Mischa Spoliansky for one).
Barry Humphries and Meow Meow in Weimar Cabaret, 2018 © Eoin Carey
Both performers shared their passion for the raucous jazz of 1920s and 30s Berlin – the backbone of Weimar Cabaret – and of the composers and lyricists of the time, who persevered despite the Nazis' attempts to discredit and, ultimately, ban their work. They also discussed the music’s influence on the Australian, European and American music scenes and Humphries revealed why he gravitated towards the Jewish boys at school.
By Judi Herman
Header photo © Eoin Carey
Listen to the full interview with Barry Humphries and Meow Meow on JR OutLoud and read our five-star review of Weimar Cabaret on the blog.