Barry Humphries/Austen Tayshus
by Ross Fitzgerald AM

Since the death of my long-time friend, the comic genius Barry Barry Humphries, by far the most outrageously talented stand-up performer in Australia is the Sydney-based Austen Tayshus.

Indeed Barry told me that Austen Tayshus was the only contemporary comedian who made him gasp, before he laughed.

Last week I attended The Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

With the exception of a Korean lesbian who’d had four abortions, none of the stand ups who performed, for hours, were a patch on Austen Tayshus.

Anyone interested to learn about the life so far of Sandy Gutman, aka Austen Tayshus, might care to read my co-authored biography Austen Tayshus: Merchant of Menace, which is availablre on-line from Amazon etc.

Professor Ross Fitzgerald’s most recent books are a memoir, Fifty Years Sober: An Alcoholic’s Journey,and the latest Grafton Everest political satire,co-authored with Ian McMcFadyen, Pandemonium, both published by Hybrid in Melbourne, and available online from Amazon etc
A four boxed set of Grafton Everest adventures, The Ascent of Everest, is also available online and direct from Hybrid in Melbourne.