danemodsandy
Well-known member
Our British members will probably appreciate this post more than our American ones, but the world lost a great and brave soul today.
He was Danny La Rue, female impersonator extraordinaire, and I do mean extraordinaire. In the U.S., impersonators are not usually mainstream performers (Jim Bailey is the only exception that comes to mind), but La Rue was a favourite on TV, in his nightclub, and in later years, as a pantomime dame*. He performed for the Royal Family on many occasions.
He wasn't like Jim Bailey or Frank Marino, who specialise in flawless impersonations of women (Bailey's "Barbra Streisand" is so good that it has fooled James Brolin briefly). La Rue was a comedian and a cut-up who played with gender roles, bringing wit to the battle of the sexes.
He was 81, and died after a brief battle with cancer. He - and his Widow Twankey - will be missed.
* We don't have pantomimes here in the U.S., so maybe a brief explanation is in order. A panto is a stage show based on some children's story or fairy tale, presented during the holiday season. The most famous is Aladdin. Lots of low comedy, magic-trick effects, and spectacle are a given. Female roles are often played by "dames," meaning men in drag. The late John Inman (Mr. Humphries on Are You Being Served?) often did pantos. In Aladdin, the part of the Widow Twankey is the most coveted by pantomime dames.
He was Danny La Rue, female impersonator extraordinaire, and I do mean extraordinaire. In the U.S., impersonators are not usually mainstream performers (Jim Bailey is the only exception that comes to mind), but La Rue was a favourite on TV, in his nightclub, and in later years, as a pantomime dame*. He performed for the Royal Family on many occasions.
He wasn't like Jim Bailey or Frank Marino, who specialise in flawless impersonations of women (Bailey's "Barbra Streisand" is so good that it has fooled James Brolin briefly). La Rue was a comedian and a cut-up who played with gender roles, bringing wit to the battle of the sexes.
He was 81, and died after a brief battle with cancer. He - and his Widow Twankey - will be missed.
* We don't have pantomimes here in the U.S., so maybe a brief explanation is in order. A panto is a stage show based on some children's story or fairy tale, presented during the holiday season. The most famous is Aladdin. Lots of low comedy, magic-trick effects, and spectacle are a given. Female roles are often played by "dames," meaning men in drag. The late John Inman (Mr. Humphries on Are You Being Served?) often did pantos. In Aladdin, the part of the Widow Twankey is the most coveted by pantomime dames.
