- A delightful comedy that reminds us of the complexities surrounding the arguments that define gender.
The Football Association of the UK has banned transgender women from participating in the sport following the high court ruling. This is obviously because of the unfair advantage in terms of strength when it comes to the other female players.
01.Irene Wanigaratne’s 1976 production of ‘Charley’s Aunt’ was one of the funniest plays that I have ever seen in my life. I watched it from beginning to end on every day of its run at the Lionel Wendt whilst helping as an usher. Written by Brandon Thomas in 1892, this situation comedy can still make people laugh hysterically.
Some of the complicated situations in this play which are truly hilarious to many of us are the very same issues that have given a two-finger sign to all those who are deeply involved in the ‘gender debate’ that is raging in the world today The UK supreme court gave its final ruling on ‘gender’ in April this year, resulting in this controversial issue being catapulted into our daily conversations once again.
To summarise the legal standpoint on this issue, I am quoting from the BBC’s Social Affairs editor who wrote: -
02.“The high court has recently argued that for the Equality Act to be consistent, the term woman must mean a biological woman. That does not include biological males, even if they have certificates to say they have changed gender. This means that where there are, for instance, women-only spaces, then a biological man who identifies as a woman cannot use them. That includes changing rooms, toilets, women's refuges, single-sex hospital wards and anywhere designated as for one sex only.
It also has brought to light the Equality act of 2010 which stated that sex was a protected characteristic, and so was gender reassignment. With the very meaning of those categories in dispute, legal experts said it set the protections of one group against the protections of another.”
03.This quote illustrates the complexities of an issue that may never be fully resolved for decades to come. Many of those who decide that they are uncomfortable with the gender that they were born with can only thrive among people and communities that fully support them. This is rare even in countries that recognise the rights of those who change their gender.
However, when there are occasions when a man claiming to be transgender gains access to a women’s only space and rapes a woman, that entire issue is turned on its head. The doubts begin to set in, and the arguments are reignited.
Even though many are intrigued by this issue, they are beginning to realise that the complexities within it are unfathomable. Some of the funniest moments in ‘Charley’s Aunt’ throws up these multilayered difficulties in a manner which can be explained in layman’s terms.
I will start by giving a brief outline of the play and the cast that brought it to vivid life making it one of the most successful comedies ever performed in Colombo. Graham Hatch, Steve de la Zilwa, Rohan Ponniah, Yolande Abeyweera, Eustace Fonseka, Dr Tony Gabriel, Sharon Sansoni, Anoja Aluwihare and Rehena Anverally were all excellent in their individual roles.
Even though the play was set in the late 19th century, Irene Wanigaratne who directed it decided to set in the 1920’s. Graham Hatch designed some beautiful costumes capturing the essence of that era. The three young girls carried off the style of that era effortlessly. They looked superb in short hair cuts that evoked the styles of that period perfectly. The production was bookended with the famous Lena Zavaroni song ‘Mama he’s making eyes at me’ and complimented with various tunes from the Music Hall period which appropriately lent itself to delightful moments during which the couples did the Charlston on stage.
04.The plot of this play is completely engulfed in mistaken identities related to gender. Friends Charley and Jack are in love with Amy and Kitty and hope to propose to them before Amy leaves town. They plan a luncheon, using Charley’s wealthy Brazilian aunt, Donna Lucia, as a chaperone. When she is delayed, they convince their friend Lord Fancourt Babberley ‘Babbs,’ who arrives dressed in drag for a play rehearsal, to impersonate her. Chaos follows with mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and comedic misunderstandings. Amy’s lecherous uncle falls for Babbs, and Charley’s father is pressured to propose to the “aunt” for her wealth, until he sees Babbs and flees. The real Donna Lucia eventually arrives to sort everything out, leading to happy couples all around, except for Uncle Stephen who is still smitten with Babbs.
What is important to understand about this play in the context of what is going on in the world today is that it could be viewed as offensive by those who chose to live with a chosen gender rather than the one that is assigned to them at birth. The direction and the interpretation of the central character of Babbs can be full of sexual innuendo. What this part demonstrates is the confusion that switching gender can cause. What he/she says could be misconstrued, some of his/her intensions can be misread, insinuation that are purposeful made may later be denied as he/she does on many occasions. It is all relevant until its denied which it often is in real life. The truth is only in the grasp of the individual concerned.
Charley’s Aunt was written in 1892 when the world gave credence to the fact that there were only two genders – male and female. These days, you can decide what gender you want to be when you get up in the morning. Human rights groups fully support those who want to live that way. I would agree that there is no harm done to anyone up until ‘they’ do not try
05.to force their agenda down everyone’s throat. Such rights can only be accepted by the mainstream when they do not supress the rights of others. Acceptance of gender dysphoria and transgender people will require overcoming deep-rooted cultural, religious, and societal biases, this will take several decades and a great amount of effort for many to fully understand and embrace.
Here are a few moments from the play that illustrate these inherent difficulties.
In a rare appearance on stage, Dr. Tony Gabriel played the part of the old colonel who recoils in sheer horror when he sees Babbs. He finds her masculinity utterly repulsive. In this hilarious scene the colonel makes his excuses and makes a hasty exit. Such instances are common in London these days. When someone with size ten feet, masculine features, wearing a dress and a wig, enters a public place, people often tend to snigger and supress their laughter. Acceptance becomes difficult to people who are not familiar with such freedoms. They react in sheer horror as they are not used to such liberalism. Sadly, if this person is in an area that was less public and more of a ghetto, he will be resoundingly abused. It does happen more regularly than recorded. Their ‘rights’ are not recognised by everyone.
Rohan Ponniah played the part of Babbs superlatively and stole the show in what was one of his best performances. His character Babbs realises that being dressed as a woman gives him an advantage of being closer to the girls and he uses this to maximum effect. Isn’t this exactly what has occurred in several women only spaces, when a man with a gender change certificate uses this very leverage to enter a women’s toilet or a hospital ward and rape a woman?
Eustace Fonseka excelled as the lecherous uncle Stephen who is enamoured with Babbs despite her looks.’ For him, a skirt means only one thing! He is constantly trying to feel Babbs up and is sometimes egged on by Babbs who enjoys being a tease. Here is a perfect example of what is going on in the gay world and its many dating apps. Men who are in denial of their sexuality
06.find it easier to copulate with other man if they are dressed up as women rather than admit to reality! Sadly, this clears their conscience in a way that they can convince themselves that they are ‘normal.’
The Football Association of the UK has banned transgender women from participating in the sport following the high court ruling. This is obviously because of the unfair advantage in terms of strength when it comes to the other female players. In the last act of the play – the fake and the real Donna Lucia decide to have a friendly chat. During this chat, the real Donna Lucia played by a glamorous Yolande Abeyweera, gently pats the fake Donna Lucia (Rohan Ponniah) with her fan. Rohan in turns uses his fan to whack Yolande (albeit gently) so venomously hard and at the end of the 8-day run Yolande’s hand was strange shade on bruised purple!
Rohan’s performance as Babbs was unforgettable. Skilfully pulling out every single nuance from all his lines and giving them multiple meanings, he used his mastery of double innuendo to the nth degree. The sight of him was enough to make anyone laugh aloud. He had a large top knot and bunches of curls on either side of his rosy cheeked face, and he also used a falsetto that wavered effectively to capture every comedic element to maximum effect. Detaching oneself and re-examining this comedy one realises that such instances are happening frequently in the world around us. This reality is not funny to those who are experiencing it on a daily basis.
At a time when rights and values are rapidly changing and government institutions are treading on eggshells about what they broadcast or put to print, I do hope that political correctness does not extend to the degree that plays like Charley’s Aunt are banned on the pretext that they may cause offence. Yet again only time will tell.
