About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherMonash University Publishing

ISBN-101925835219

ISBN-139781925835212

eBay Product ID (ePID)24038489296

Product Key Features

Number of Pages296 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameSeven Big Australians : Adventures with Comic Actors

Publication Year2019

SubjectRich & Famous, Entertainment & Performing Arts

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaBiography & Autobiography

AuthorAnne Pender

SeriesBiography Ser.

FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height0.7 in

Item Weight12.3 Oz

Item Length9.2 in

Item Width6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceScholarly & Professional

LCCN2018-493450

IllustratedYes

SynopsisComic actors have made a particularly strong contribution to cultural life in Australia over the past sixty years. They have brought a range of memorable characters to the stage, television and film; they have transformed our image of ourselves, helped to overturn the crippling cultural cringe, and brought Australian humour and satire to the world. The Australian theatre, television and film industries are dynamic in ways that could never have been imagined fifty years ago. These industries have expanded and demonstrated extraordinary vitality, with actors, as the public face of the performing arts, carrying the immediate responsibility for the success of each show. It is the actors, and often the characters they play, that we remember when we recall a favourite television program, film or play, long after we have seen it. In spite of this they are frequently left out of history. This book draws on extensive interviews to present full, rounded portraits of seven significant Australian comic actors: Carol Raye, Barry Humphries, Noeline Brown, Max Gillies, John Clarke, Tony Sheldon, and Denise Scott. Taken together, these actors' careers span the period from the Second World War until the present and contributed immensely to the cultural life of millions of Australians., Comicactors have made a particularly strong contribution to cultural life inAustralia over the past sixty years. They have brought a range of memorablecharacters to the stage, television and film; they have transformed our imageof ourselves, helped to overturn the crippling cultural cringe, and broughtAustralian humour and satire to the world. TheAustralian theatre, television and film industries are dynamic in ways thatcould never have been imagined fifty years ago. These industries have expandedand demonstrated extraordinary vitality, with actors, as the public face of theperforming arts, carrying the immediate responsibility for the success of eachshow. It is the actors, and often the characters they play, that we rememberwhen we recall a favourite television program, film or play, long after we haveseen it. In spite of this they are frequently left out of history. Thisbook draws on extensive interviews to present full, rounded portraits of sevensignificant Australian comic actors: Carol Raye, Barry Humphries, NoelineBrown, Max Gillies, John Clarke, Tony Sheldon, and Denise Scott. Takentogether, these actors' careers span the period from the Second World War untilthe present and contributed immensely to the cultural life of millions ofAustralians., Anne Pender explores the lives and creative work of seven extraordinary performers who have brought joy and hilarity to generations of Australians through their memorable characters on stage and television, and in their potent satire, musical comedy, revue, drama, stand-up acts and one-person shows. Carol Raye, Barry Humphries, Noeline Brown, Max Gillies, John Clarke, Tony Sheldon and Denise Scott pioneered home-grown humour, transformed the image of Australia, intervened in political life, and brought Australian comedy to the world. They created iconic figures, including Mavis Bramston, Dame Edna Everage, Clarke and Dawe, Bernadette in Priscilla Queen of the Desertana mesmerising impersonations of prime ministers. In Seven Big Australians, Pender interprets the lives of these significant comic actors, offering vivid biographical portraits of their childhood and family of origin, their struggles to enter the entertainment industry and the art they created over many decades. Drawing on extensive interviews conducted with each actor over many years, Pender documents their experiences of the hardships of breaking into the industry and the challenges of staying there, the gruelling nature of daily life as a performer, the demands of working in multiple forms, the realities of script writing under pressure and the exhilaration of performing. These actors are significant cultural figures whose lives are awe-inspiring, momentous and magical. Book jacket., Anne Pender explores the lives and creative work of seven extraordinary performers who have brought joy and hilarity to generations of Australians through their memorable characters on stage and television, and in their potent satire, musical comedy, revue, drama, stand-up acts and one-person shows. Carol Raye, Barry Humphries, Noeline Brown, Max Gillies, John Clarke, Tony Sheldon and Denise Scott pioneered home-grown humour, transformed the image of Australia, intervened in political life, and brought Australian comedy to the world. They created iconic figures, including Mavis Bramston, Dame Edna Everage, Clarke and Dawe, Bernadette in Priscilla Queen of the Desert and mesmerising impersonations of prime ministers. In Seven Big Australians, Pender interprets the lives of these significant comic actors, offering vivid biographical portraits of their childhood and family of origin, their struggles to enter the entertainment industry and the art they created over many decades. Drawing on extensive interviews conducted with each actor over many years, Pender documents their experiences of the hardships of breaking into the industry and the challenges of staying there, the gruelling nature of daily life as a performer, the demands of working in multiple forms, the realities of script writing under pressure and the exhilaration of performing. These actors are significant cultural figures whose lives are awe-inspiring, momentous and magical.

LC Classification NumberPN3017.P46 2019