Inspired by Liberace, Aussie hits Vegas

Monday, Dec. 12, 2005 | 9:08 a.m.

When: 8 p.m. Dec. 18-31, with special performances at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 29-30. There will be one 10:30 p.m. performance Dec. 31. Dark Tuesdays.

Where: Luxor Theater

Tickets: Through Dec. 30, $71.50 (mezzanine seating), $82.50 (main floor seating). On Dec. 31, $121 (mezzanine), $137.50 (main floor).

Information: 262-4900

Move over Frank Marino, Dame Edna is coming to town.

Outrageous Australian female impersonator Barry Humphries will make his Las Vegas debut with a two-week engagement at the Luxor beginning Sunday.

"I had a vision at my bedside," Humphries said in his Dame Edna voice during a telephone interview from England. "It was Liberace, it was. Little Lee was at my bedside.

"He said, 'Vegas needs you Edna,' and then he vanished. So I'm really following a spiritual instruction."

Dame Edna said she was surprised by the visit.

"You don't lie in bed waiting for Liberace to appear, although some people might," she said. "It was a total surprise to me. I didn't know what it was at first -- this heavy jeweled spirit. He doesn't dress as well as I do."

Humphries has more personalities than Sybil (the subject of a 1976 made-for TV movie who had 16 personalities).

The 71-year-old actor/satirist also portrays the characters Sandy Stone and Sir Les Patterson.

And he is a highly acclaimed landscape artist, as well as the author of several plays, novels, autobiographies and other books.

He also is a composer and former race car driver.

But it is Dame Edna who has brought him the most recognition.

The character is a widow with three grown children. She spends her time visiting world leaders and jet-setting between her homes in Los Angeles, London, Sydney, Switzerland and Martha's Vineyard.

Dame Edna is the founder of Friends of the Prostate and the creator of The World Prostate Olympics.

Edna Everage first appeared on the British stage in 1969 in Humphries' one-man "Just a Show."

Since then she has become an international star.

In 2002 she was in the cast of the popular TV series "Ally McBeal."

She has appeared on Broadway (2004's "Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance") and toured the nation -- almost every major city, but not Vegas.

"I've been, as you know -- since my wonderfully successful show in New York -- in demand in many provincial areas of the United States," Dame Edna said. "The sinful little city of Las Vegas -- I have felt guilty ignoring you.

"You know some people don't want to gamble when they go to Las Vegas, they just want to have a good time without it costing them the food out of their families' mouths, and what I'm proud of is I do a show which is family oriented."

Humphries never breaks character during an interview.

"I love the Luxor," he/she said. "If foolish people spend a little bit too much time at the slot machines and want to do away with themselves, they can't jump out of the window -- they just slide gently to the ground. Isn't that considerate?"

Dame Edna said the show will include some singing and dancing.

"And some family therapy," she said. "Also psychic readings -- caring and sharing. There will be lavish gifts. Beautiful gladioli will be given away; a fortune a night is spent on gladioli. That's Australia's national flower."

Humpries was born in Melbourne, Australia, the son of an affluent construction contractor. After graduating from Melbourne University, he moved to London in 1960 and began his stage and TV career.

"There will be a little audience participation in my show," Dame Edna continued. "We are not Cirque du Soleil, there is nothing Canadian about my show, not a trace of Canada. It will be more of a tribute to Las Vegas."

The show is for all ages.

"I'm a grandmother," Dame Edna said. "I like to think I can go to a show and laugh and cry and emote, and I can bring my loved ones and not be embarrassed and not be sickened by what's happening onstage -- there are no scary clowns or mimes in my show. I don't know what you think about mimes, but I don't like mimes."

If this show is a success, fans in Vegas may expect to see more of Dame Edna in the future.

"I've got a spooky feeling, after this debut I'm going to become a fixture in that little desert city of yours," she says.

Dame Edna thinks she can help Vegas.

"What I want to do, and this is a secret, what I want to do is to try and turn Las Vegas into a tourist destination if I can," she said. "But that's a lot for one woman to take on."

Dame Edna says she will stay busy during her Vegas engagement.

"I will try to participate in the intellectual life of Las Vegas," she said. "I feel that would be an effortless undertaking."

And she will visit the Liberace Museum.

"I want to thank the spirit of Little Lee for pointing me in the direction of the oasis in the desert," she said. "And for allowing me the opportunity to bring good taste and some sort of family values to the little oasis."

Dame Edna says some of the ticket price will go to her favorite charity.

"People will be pleased to know that a percentage of the proceeds will go to The Friends of the Prostate," she said. "I started it -- I'm always championing lost causes, and the prostate has been practically ignored.

"Why, I know married women who have overlooked it for a long time."

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or a jerry@lasvegassun.com.