Australian housewife and megastar Dame Edna Everage holds court on 'The Late Late Show'.
The self-proclaimed housewife and megastar, Dame Edna Everage declares herself an avid fan of Irish arts and fancies performing some of the great female roles of Irish theatre.
Irish actor David Kelly suggests the role of Pegeen Mike in John Millington Synge’s play ′The Playboy of the Western World’. Dame Edna is keen but,
I’d have to have the title rewritten I’d want it to be ‘The Playgirl of the Western World’.
Dame Enda sees herself portraying Lady Augusta Gregory in a documentary on the poet William Butler Yeats. She also fancies herself as Nora Barnacle, the wife of author James Joyce.
Dame Edna proudly shows off her dress, designed by her son Kenny,
It incorporates a very lovely Australian landscape, and it has a koala pocket.
Following many years in hospital with prostate problems, Dame Edna’s husband, Sir Norman Everage (Norm) recently died. Norm insisted that all his organs be donated,
He’s pretty much globally recycled now.
A member of the audience asks Dame Enda if she likes Irish men and would she consider an Irish husband. She replies,
I’m not so hard-hearted that I’m on the lookout at the moment.
Dame Edna finds Irish people charming and admires their wit, humour and gentleness. She points out that she is not resorting to flattery as her five evening shows at The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin are all sold out.
Dame Edna Everage is a character played by the Australian comedian and satirist Barry Humphries.
This episode of ‘The Late Late Show’ was broadcast on 23 September 1988. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
