What is it with British people and crossdressing?

[picklejuice]

Once upon a time in the Land of Monty Python...

[asitshouldbe]

You could always post this question in the United Kingdom forum, get the answers straight from the British.

[in_newengland]

Thanks for the Lumberjack Song. That used to be on tv on Monty Python back in the 70s and I haven't heard it since.

[MystMoonstruck]

We have Milton Berle, Bugs Bunny, Flip Wilson (Geraldine~"The Devil made me do it!"), and... I know there are others, but it's 3 a.m., and my brain is bogging down. Doesn't Tyler Perry do that, too, and Eddie Murphy has, hasn't he? I imagine there are others in comedy. It's also been done in drama, of course.

I never thought about which country might do that more. For sheer history, I guess I'd go with the British because, as noted, we're relative newcomers.

Musicwise: As a friend of the family, Milton Berle has two roles in Ratt's "Round and Round" video, including a bejewelled/begowned society lady:

Ratt - Round And Round (Official Video) - YouTube

I just thought I'd throw that in for the music part.

[TAJR]

Well if we're going history I'd guess maybe the Greeks or Chinese have the longest history of cross-dressing. Chinese Opera had "Dan" which was a female role that, at one time, was exclusively played by a male. The Japanese still have a grand, official, history of cross-dressing with kabuki. They even have a specific name for female roles played by men, Onnagata. (Or oyama)