Rude by name, not nature

Press, 30 May 1987, Page 1

Rude by name, not nature

By

NEVIN TOPP

Rude by name but not by nature. That is the reality of an Australian comedian now touring New Zealand.

In Christchurch for two shows, Rodney Rude yesterday talked about his funny life and times, dressed as Harry Muff, one his his stage characters. Somewhat surprisingly, in all his years of performing blue humour Rude said that he had never had a complaint from the audience about his material. Once the Federal Minister of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Mr Al Grassby, had written a letter of complaint about the show because of its treatment of minority groups. Some of his staff had seen the show and complained, Rude said.

“We invited him to come and see the show for himself. He is of Italian descent. Afterwards, he came and saw me and said that he thought the show was great. “I don’t like hurting people’s feelings. I do not do nasty things.” Rodney Rude is not welcome in two states of Australia, not because the people do not like his humour — it is the police who have not found it funny.

Rude said he was still defending three charges laid by the state police in Queensland, including one for offensive language. But he was cleared of charges in Western Australia, also laid by the police, after the case had gone to the state Supreme Court. Because of the popularity of Thursday evening’s show at the Christchurch Town Hall, a second show will be held tomorrow evening at the same venue.