Glad that ‘Dame Edna’ was one of the good guys. Like Paul O’Gradys ‘Lily Savage’ his drag appeared to come from a place of love and empathy for women rather than mockery.
Still feeling massively upset about Paul O’G - now Dame Edna has gone over the rainbow bridge as well. RIP to 2 truly funny men. Looking back at their work is astonishing. Jokes have been cancelled for so long!
I like to think that Lily, H&B and especially Les Dawson were not so much about women per se as about male perception of women. Cissy and Ada, for example, lampooned the whole notion that women are inveterate over-the-garden-wall gosspis, when in reality, men gossip - in their own particular way - just as much as, if not more than, women. I think this is a throwback to the premodern theatre, when women were not allowed on stage, and men performed 'as women', but in ways which clearly were not grounded in authenticity. Male actors in (serious) drag were experts in pastiche, not reality, and I think it's this that the benign drag artists - Savage, Dame Edna, Dawson - were, wittingly or otherwise, emulating.
And let’s not forget the fabulous Danny la rue , these men were not in the slightest trying to degrade us , they were sticking up for us and were hilariously funny
Ach too bad some chose the wrong path
Looking at you Eddie izzard , shameful I gave you my hard earned cash
Thank you for telling us about this. Simple good sense and gratitude for a life well lived neither of which the Tras will ever be capable of understanding.
Indeed. The only person I’ve seen complain they found Dame Edna offensive is Willoughby, which makes me love Barry even more than I thought I ever could 😂
Barry Humphries -- what a gifted and great adult human male. And that's precisely what made Dame Edna so hilarious. Barry was a man. And his pretending to be woman was so funny. The absurdity of a man being a woman used to be comedic. Same with panto. The humour bubbled up from the absurdity. Now the authoritarian 'gender' cultists, who have thrown reality under the bus, punish the laughter, and insist on the Orwellian acceptance of the absurdity.
Barry was very perceptive behind his comedy. Many of Dame Edna's barbs were aimed at men's treatment of women. But Edna did it with a smile so they couldn't take offence. Sir Les's behaviour was at the extreme of male attitudes, but I bet many men recognised him in themselves.
Thank you for sharing this Graham. What a sincere and warm email to have received which contrasts with the treatment of him from the organisers of that comedy festival. Ghastly virtue-signalling and ungrateful lot. He was not wrong about them all being malign at all.
What a special and clever man. Thank goodness for the wisdom of people such as Barry and Graham who will not be bullied by extremists, extremists who have an over inflated and misguided belief in themselves and who seek to destroy good people. Malignant indeed.
OMG I didn't know he had signed the letter! I loved him, I have very happy memories of laughing at Dame Edna with my late mother. Old school drag, same as Lily Savage, special place in my heart for these men. RIP, both.
I've been thinking about him recently, comparing him as Dame Edna with the horrible drag queen shit that's currently a Trojan horse here in Canada. I never felt belittled as a woman by anything he said. He was just funny as anything.
Just when I thought I couldn't have loved him more.
Glad that ‘Dame Edna’ was one of the good guys. Like Paul O’Gradys ‘Lily Savage’ his drag appeared to come from a place of love and empathy for women rather than mockery.
Still feeling massively upset about Paul O’G - now Dame Edna has gone over the rainbow bridge as well. RIP to 2 truly funny men. Looking back at their work is astonishing. Jokes have been cancelled for so long!
P O'G always said that Lily Savage was an act. He never claimed to be a woman. Hinge and Brackett were lovely characters https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinge_and_Bracket and Cissie and Ada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cissie_and_Ada
Warm women tributes, not sexualised parodies which these trans women are.
I like to think that Lily, H&B and especially Les Dawson were not so much about women per se as about male perception of women. Cissy and Ada, for example, lampooned the whole notion that women are inveterate over-the-garden-wall gosspis, when in reality, men gossip - in their own particular way - just as much as, if not more than, women. I think this is a throwback to the premodern theatre, when women were not allowed on stage, and men performed 'as women', but in ways which clearly were not grounded in authenticity. Male actors in (serious) drag were experts in pastiche, not reality, and I think it's this that the benign drag artists - Savage, Dame Edna, Dawson - were, wittingly or otherwise, emulating.
That has to be the most gracious and heartfelt tribute I’ve read today
What an absolute treasure
RIP possum
I agree. This is lovely both from Graham and from Barry. And I also love that you called him possum, Petal possum!
And let’s not forget the fabulous Danny la rue , these men were not in the slightest trying to degrade us , they were sticking up for us and were hilariously funny
Ach too bad some chose the wrong path
Looking at you Eddie izzard , shameful I gave you my hard earned cash
Thank you for telling us about this. Simple good sense and gratitude for a life well lived neither of which the Tras will ever be capable of understanding.
I'm not surprised, but really pleased to have the concrete evidence, in his e-mail to you, that he understood the issue perfectly.
That’s really heartwarming to know. Funny how Dane Edna wasn’t at all offensive to women just hilariously funny.
Indeed. The only person I’ve seen complain they found Dame Edna offensive is Willoughby, which makes me love Barry even more than I thought I ever could 😂
Barry Humphries -- what a gifted and great adult human male. And that's precisely what made Dame Edna so hilarious. Barry was a man. And his pretending to be woman was so funny. The absurdity of a man being a woman used to be comedic. Same with panto. The humour bubbled up from the absurdity. Now the authoritarian 'gender' cultists, who have thrown reality under the bus, punish the laughter, and insist on the Orwellian acceptance of the absurdity.
You've hit the nail right on the head there.
Contrast Barry H or Lily Savage with Dylan Mulvaney!!
Barry was very perceptive behind his comedy. Many of Dame Edna's barbs were aimed at men's treatment of women. But Edna did it with a smile so they couldn't take offence. Sir Les's behaviour was at the extreme of male attitudes, but I bet many men recognised him in themselves.
getting any man to laugh at himself is a high achievement. The massive pride (ego) of them prevents it.
He was a great man and is a great loss. I’m so pleased to hear that he supported you.
Thank you for sharing this Graham. What a sincere and warm email to have received which contrasts with the treatment of him from the organisers of that comedy festival. Ghastly virtue-signalling and ungrateful lot. He was not wrong about them all being malign at all.
What a special and clever man. Thank goodness for the wisdom of people such as Barry and Graham who will not be bullied by extremists, extremists who have an over inflated and misguided belief in themselves and who seek to destroy good people. Malignant indeed.
Thank you for sharing this Glinner. You have cheered up one very very sad Aussie who grew up on Dame Edna
Wonderful. All one could hope for from the Valiant Dame Edna.
OMG I didn't know he had signed the letter! I loved him, I have very happy memories of laughing at Dame Edna with my late mother. Old school drag, same as Lily Savage, special place in my heart for these men. RIP, both.
I've been thinking about him recently, comparing him as Dame Edna with the horrible drag queen shit that's currently a Trojan horse here in Canada. I never felt belittled as a woman by anything he said. He was just funny as anything.
Thank you Graham, he was a great and funny man.
I always loved Barry's humor, sadly never realised he had been boycotted and banned for being such a hero. Big love and thanks Barry, a true star.