CAMP: "A cornucopia of frivolity, incongruity, theatricality, and humour." "A deadly, winking, sniggering, snuggling, chromium-plated, scent-impregnated, luminous, quivering, giggling, fruit-flavored, mincing, ice-covered heap of mother love." "The lie that tells the truth." "Ostentatious, exaggerated, affected, theatrical; effeminate or homosexual; pertaining to or characteristic of homosexuals."
Speaking of Gay Days - how on earth could I have missed the fact that it was the centenary of one of the greatest "honorary gayers", and our Patron Saint Miss Bea Arthur last Friday?!!
All hail!
Beatrice Arthur (born Bernice Frankel, 13th May 1922 – 25th April 2009)
LOVED AND ADORED.
ReplyDeleteHow could one not? We went to her one-woman show way back in 2003, and fell in love with her all over again! She was just the most brilliant entertainer, actress, comedian, and human being. Jx
DeleteFour great actresses, comediennes and gay activists. Pity they wouldn't let Sophia and Dorothy be Jewish in the show.
ReplyDeleteMaude was very funny too.
Estelle Getty wanted her part to be Jewish, but apparently they'd already written the part as Sicilian, so that's that - and let's face it "Picture it. Sicily, 1933." remains an enduring catch-phrase...
DeleteI never saw Maude. I don't think it was ever shown here on terrestrial TV, so presumably you caught up with it on cable? Jx
No, YouTube. Still some episodes on there. Covered some topics you wouldn't think a seventies sitcom would. She has an abortion in one episode (aged forty nine)
DeleteThere must be, or maybe must have been at some point, a Jewish community in Sicily, so maybe Sophia and Dorothy were Jewish and got out while they could. I've not seen many references to Catholicism in the programme.
Adore her. Such a funny, graceful lady. Looked like a lorry driver in drag, but funny wins every time. Just a roll of her eyes! Kizzzes.
ReplyDeleteOne of the greats! Jx
DeleteHow does she do that falling backwards thing?
ReplyDeleteIf it's really her in that shot (which I doubt), it must have taken a helluva lot of trust - and probably drugs - to do it. Jx
DeleteAdorable and adored.
ReplyDeleteSo glad we managed to see her on stage.
A fab and enduring memory to treasure... Jx
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