Dame Edna Everage, the comic creation of Australian comedian and British sensation Barry Humphries, will make her North American debut when her new show, The Royal Tour, opens Oct. 7 at San Francisco's Theatre on the Square. The silver-haired, bespectacled Edna will entertain American audiences with talk of England's Royal family, baby-sitters and her pet project, the Prostate Olympics 2000. The show started previews Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 8, though it may be extended. No other tour dates have been lined up as of yet.

Humphries created Edna--described as a "Melbourne housewife-chanteuse swami-monstre sacre" -- in 1956. The character first made a splash in Britain with the 1969 show Just a Show. Subsequent London ventures have included A Night with Dame Edna, Back with a Vengeance and 1996's Look at Me When I'm Talking to You.

The tour is presented by Jonathan Reinis, Chase Mishkin, Steven Levy and Leonard Soloway. Theatre on the Square is located at 450 Post Street. For tickets and information, call (415) 433-9500.

-- By Robert Simonson