A spot-on impression of the late Orson Welles defending transgender rights and rebuking transphobes is getting mainstream attention.
Comedian Jules Starn posted his monologue on Instagram on January 4 and it has been picked up by several websites, including MSN, and shared across Tik Tok. The minute-long comedy sketch was penned by Manhunt and Cuckoo writer Gretchen Felker-Martin two years ago, but only recently committed to video.
“I did an audio recording of this brilliant piece of writing by the incredibly talented @gretchenfelkermartin 2 years ago, and I couldn’t take off the makeup yesterday without filming a proper version,” Starn posted in a comment accompanying the clip. “I still had it memorized!”
Dressed as if Welles had just shot F for Fake and stepped onto a talk show set, Starn opens by saying: “Where do I stand on the… transgender question?” A group of millions is not a question, but a demographic.”
Capturing Welles’ colorful erudite speaking style, Starn makes note of the presence of trans people throughout human history with a playful jab at modern-day sensibilities: “The Romans had their castrated priestesses, the Hindus their Hijras, but, my God, let us take to the barricades if Uncle Al comes to Thanksgiving in a skirt and pantyhose!”
“It’s the province of rubes, hayseed reactionaries, and the worst effluvia of America’s suburban colon.”
Starn saves his sharpest attack for comedian Dave Chappelle, who has been accused by some of being transphobic. Of Chappelle, the faux Wellles laments, “One joke, stretched so you can hear its joints popping like some poor bastard on the rack, ‘Oh I identify as a car, my bird has pronouns.’ The laziness of it. It’s shameful.”
Commenters on social media overwhelmingly praised both the writing and Starn’s performance. “Pinned down his accent and mannerisms of speech like a hammer on a nail my guy. Gives me hope that the real Welles would have a similar opinion on us trans folks.” Another noted, “Excellent in every way. Pitch perfect writing, superb execution.” And finally, “I’m pretending this is real and looking no further at Orson’s record on the issue.”
Welles’ opinions on transgender rights are unknown, though his politics were liberal and he championed civil rights throughout his lifetime.
___
View this post on Instagram
__________
Post your comments on the Wellesnet Message Board.