DAME EDNA HAS HER SPECS ON YOU.Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic There is nothing like a dame's possums. That would be us: the hapless and helpless masses assembled at the Ahmanson Theatre The Ahmanson Theatre is one of the four main venues that comprise the Los Angeles Music Center. Through the generosity of philanthropist Robert H. Ahmanson, construction began on March 9, 1962. , innocently occupying our seats, unaware that should Dame Edna Everage happen to glance our way, we're as good as toast. For, you see, Dame Edna - the self-adoring, violet-haired alter ego A doctrine used by the courts to ignore the corporate status of a group of stockholders, officers, and directors of a corporation in reference to their limited liability so that they may be held personally liable for their actions when they have acted fraudulently or unjustly or when of Barry Humphries John Barry Humphries, AO, CBE (born 17 February 1934 in Camberwell, Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian comedian, satirist and character actor best known for his on-stage and television alter egos - exists to embarrass embarrass /em·bar·rass/ (em-bar´as) to impede the function of; to obstruct. em·bar·rass v. To interfere with or impede (a bodily function or part). us. Because we dress badly, have had enhancements, live in the wrong place or brought the wrong partner to her show. In short, because we're not as great/famous (pick your superlative) as she is. And she wants to help. It's out of an utter sense of kindness that she seeks to reduce her possums to a doubled-over mass of sheer mortification MORTIFICATION, Scotch law. This term is nearly synonymous with mortmain. . Hence the very compassionate title of her show, "Back With a Vengeance." Be prepared to rupture a gut in hysterics, and occupants of the first two or three rows, you may consider yourself warned. Act 1: Dame Edna solo. She descends from an enormous set of signature spectacles, tossing off number or two with the aid of pianist Wayne Barker (who is smart enough not to banter much) and a pair of Gorgeous Ednaettes (Teri DiGianfelice and Michelle Pampena). Then her gaze falls upon individual audience members who take her, um, fancy, and out come the blades. Act 2: Assorted possums take the stage for a closer encounter, and the roof all but caves in from laughter. You might think an artist dependent upon back-and-forth repartee rep·ar·tee n. 1. A swift, witty reply. 2. Conversation marked by the exchange of witty retorts. See Synonyms at wit1. might be only as good as her weakest audience victim. I'm not so sure. Dame Edna is awfully quick on her feet and plays along quite gamely when one of her possums displays a funny streak of his/her own. "Back With a Vengeance" is not hugely different from "Dame Edna: The Royal Tour," which played the Shubert Theatre The Shubert Theatre is the name for several current and former theatrical venues: Currently named Shubert Theatre:
adj. Using exactly the same words; corresponding word for word: a verbatim report of the conversation. adv. . Still, there's no torture quite so juicy as watching someone squirm in Dame Edna's cross hairs. This "kindness" absolutely kills. Evan Henerson, (818) 713-3651 evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com DAME EDNA: BACK WITH A VENGEANCE - Three stars Where: Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. When: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; through April 9. Tickets: $45 to $85. Call (213) 628-2772. In a nutshell: The dame takes aim, and we dissolve in embarrassment and laughter. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: no caption (Dame Edna) |
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