COMEDY
THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK ★★★★
Barry Humphries, Hamer Hall, Until May 26

When Dame Edna retired from public life with a glorious, gladioli-waving farewell tour a few years ago, the event had a poignant coda where Barry Humphries, stripped of his larger-than-life character, tipped his hat to the audience as he left the stage door.

We knew we hadn't seen the last of him, and his return (or perhaps we should say relapse – Humphries does describe himself as a "recovering comedian") saw a man in his element.

Back on the boards in Melbourne, Humphries looked utterly relaxed, delivering a free-wheeling blend of reminiscences, jokes and anecdotes to an appreciative home crowd.

It was an evening that regaled us with fascinating and funny stories from a long life in the theatre, and if Edna kept muscling in – undisputed empress, as she is, of anything that resembles a suburban slide night – Humphries held court with charm and gadfly wit.