Victor Borge is 'boss'

Press, 22 September 1980, Page 1

Victor Borge is ' boss '

By

JOHN BROWN

Victor Borge has , a secret. At 71 his performances are sell-outs. Borge knows every time is different but he always takes his audiences along with him. His smiles and laughter ensure that. His arrival in . Christchurch last evening came at the end of a gruelling 14-hour working day and a long flight from Honolulu. He was tired but his Danish politeness shone through; so too did his “secret” — the ability to relate to all people at all levels.

For 63 years he has entertained in all parts of the Western world. On the start of his first tour of New Zealand for 18 years, Victor Borge is as sure as ever about how audiences feel.

• “I’m the boss on stage and I’m there all the time. Not for 20 minutes. Once the rapport is set then we work together, the audience and me.” His Danish accent is still sharp. He learnt English as a man in his early 30s when he escaped from his homeland just in front of the invading Nazi forces.

Borge holds no particular line for being Jewish,

but “I guess it has given me something special in the way of understanding. Perhaps I’ve seen more.” On his annual trips to Denmark, Borge has become the focus of much work for one of his favourite charities,, the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Society. He is personally responsible for raising many thousands of Danish kroner for research into the disease in Denmark. “It’s something we all must do.' We must give something back,” he said. Victor Borge has few illusions about the world. He does not readily admit to getting annoyed but he does worry. He cares, “perhaps too much,” about what is being done in the name of democracy. • “Freedom should be something we do within a sound framework of discipline.” With too much seriousness he is uneasy, but it underlies all his statements and his warm smile.

“Laughing is serious, crying is serious. We must all react.” This is easy to do with Victor Borge. He has his secret of always leaving people wanting more. He will give concerts in Christchurch this evening and tomorrow.