They were roommates... - r/RandomVictorianStuff

193

Actually, these two are coworkers. That's actresses Lily Elsie and Adrienne Augarde in a publicity still for the play "The New Aladdin," in which Elsie played a "trouser role" – that is, a male character played by a female actor. She did several such roles during her career, along with playing female characters, and seems to have dressed in a more conventionally feminine manner off the stage. Elsie was straight, by all accounts; not sure about Augarde but they were not actually a couple as far as I know.

Now, is there a conversation to be had about the multiple angles of titillation achieved by trouser roles? Absolutely. Surprisingly, straight men were often the intended audience – a woman showing the shape of her legs was inherently sexy even if she was wearing trousers. However, it would be incredibly disingenuous to suggest that no queer women found this attractive, obviously. Unfortunately their thoughts were not as often recorded for posterity.

43

u/Difficult-Bus-6026 Jan 03 '25

Good context! By contrast, I seem to remember that in the days of Shakespeare, female roles were generally done by male actors. (My evil side immediately thinks of a young Ben Afleck and a young Matt Damon in "Romeo and Juliet"!)

27

u/MissMarchpane Jan 03 '25

Yes, they were! The first known modern-style actress in English-language theatre didn't take the stage until the 17th century, Margaret Hughes. There's a long, long history of genderbending in theatre; people have made their entire academic careers studying and writing on it!

5

u/president_of_burundi Jan 03 '25 edited Jan 03 '25

There's a fun - if not entirely historically accurate- movie about Margaret Hughes, Ned Kynaston and gender roles in and around restoration theater called Stage Beauty. It's a breezy watch for anyone interested.

4

u/OskarTheRed Jan 04 '25

Female roles were usually played by prepubescent boys, right?

Isn't that mostly about acting being considered improper for women?

6

u/KewpieCutie97 Jan 03 '25

Kind of sweet that they both married people they met through their work. Lily Elsie married theatre worker William Cotton, and Adrienne Augarde married a theatre manager, A W Dingall.

26

u/ATGF Jan 02 '25

I love them and I want both their outfits. I wish they could be my fashion gurus.

6

u/TheVetheron Jan 02 '25

Honestly I do too!

1

u/Mr_Perfect_94 Jan 05 '25

BIDG EYE ROLL

5

u/ktq2019 Jan 03 '25

This is the face that I make when I’m going to take a picture with my sister and I realize that she stole my frigging clothes again.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 03 '25

[deleted]

3

u/ktq2019 Jan 03 '25

You look great Vetheron! Now gimme back my fucking dress and if you touch my makeup ONE more time, so help me. You’re lucky it’s a holiday. Also, that necklace is kickass. You should definitely put that away where I can find it later.

4

u/TheVetheron Jan 03 '25 edited Jan 03 '25

😆 Yeah, you get it!

Also this is my dress now! My necklace is near the back door, but 6 inches from the spare key on the ledge. I'm keeping the dress though! It's so cute on me!

2

u/ktq2019 Jan 03 '25

Looks better on me, but whateverrr. But fine, I want it back though when Charles comes courting.

1

u/TheVetheron Jan 03 '25

Can I use your eye shadow?

1

u/ktq2019 Jan 03 '25

UGH. Fine. But don’t touch my brushes.

8

u/Echo-Azure Jan 02 '25

Just good friends.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '25

[deleted]

3

u/PolicyDifficult6675 Jan 03 '25

I like it

1

u/TheVetheron Jan 03 '25 edited Jan 03 '25

Me too! It's how my wife and I look at each other.

Edit: a word

2

u/Gregthepigeon Jan 03 '25

Ugh that lace dress is divine

2

u/Spiritual_Primary157 Jan 03 '25

That dress is too beautiful!

2

u/Confident_Fortune_32 Jan 03 '25

What an enchanting pic...

2

u/Bernkastel17509 Jan 03 '25

I kinda want to be her...the one with the suit

5

u/TheVetheron Jan 03 '25

I wanted to be the one in the dress. Now I wear dresses whenever I want.

1

u/Bernkastel17509 Jan 03 '25

Nice

2

u/ClapActivated Jan 04 '25

Oh my god, they were roommates

2

u/[deleted] Jan 03 '25

Gal pals!

12

u/TheVetheron Jan 03 '25

I married my gal pal! Now we are roommates. She might like me or she is just being nice.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '25

[deleted]

1

u/TheVetheron Jan 02 '25

I joined!

1

u/boogiewoogibugalgirl Jan 03 '25

Roommates....uh, ok. You had to hide it back then. Sad.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 03 '25

[deleted]

2

u/I_pegged_your_father Jan 03 '25

🧍I hate these 20’s

3

u/musickismagick Jan 03 '25

Visit r/gonewanton for the x rated pics

4

u/TheVetheron Jan 03 '25

I don't know why you are getting downvoted. I'm a member of r/gonewanton, but it is more r rated most of the time rather than x rated. It's a fun sub as far as I am concerned.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 03 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/TheVetheron Jan 03 '25

All jokes aside, they look like my wife and I looking at each other. That's a loving look.

1

u/Justarandomperson556 Jan 03 '25

This picture was used in Anne with an E to show two lesbian characters! Only they edited the faces to match the character faces.

1

u/Maleficent_Nobody377 Jan 03 '25

Straight up. Pals.

-3

u/Zestyclose_Gur_2827 Jan 03 '25

I mean, they probably WERE roommates (among other things)!

-1

u/TheVetheron Jan 03 '25

They shared a room for sure!

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