Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope
A new show about the original Englishman in New York
Written & Performed by Mark Farrelly
Directed by Linda Marlowe – Sound by Tom Lishman
“It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile, Be yourself no matter what they say.” – Lyric from An Englishman In New York, written by Sting about Quentin Crisp.
From a conventional Surrey upbringing to global notoriety via The Naked Civil Servant, Quentin Crisp was an extraordinary raconteur and wit. This new production, making its London premiere after an Edinburgh season, shows Quentin both in his beloved Chelsea flat as the 1970s dawned, and in his final years in his adopted New York, with the new millennium beckoning.
The show draws on Quentin’s own writing and performances in a new script by Mark Farrelly, who also performs (West End credits include Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf with Matthew Kelly). He is directed by the renowned Linda Marlowe, who has won awards for her own solo work such as Berkoff’s Women.
The production premiered at the Edinburgh fringe 2014 and transferred immediately to the St James Theatre, London, prior to a UK tour.
★★★★ ‘An elegant one-man memoir… a mannered and moving performance.’ Metro
★★★★ ‘Riveting and hysterically funny… a fantastic production, and one which will stay with you long after the curtain call.’ British Theatre Guide
★★★★ ‘Farrelly has put together a winning script and performed it with enough style to win even Crisp’s approval. An excellent hour’s entertainment.’ EdinburghGuide.com
★★★★ ‘Excellent… Farrelly nails far more than just Crisp’s wit here.’ BroadwayBaby.com
★★★★ ‘Comes into his own… with his brilliant, dry, laconic wit.’ The Stage
★★★★ ‘Funny, moving and inspiring… a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man.’ Scotsgay
‘This is a show that drips aphorisms and pithy witticisms… ensures that it is always amusing… an entertaining 70 minutes.’ The Guardian