Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope
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.
Naked Hope depicts the legendary Quentin Crisp at two distinct phases of his extraordinary life. Firstly, in the late 1960s in his filthy Chelsea flat.
“Don’t lose your nerve: after the first four years the dust won’t get any worse”
The second part of the play transitions the audience to New York in the 1990s. Here a much older Quentin, finally embraced by society, regales the audience with his sharply observed, hard-earned philosophy on how to have a lifestyle.
“Life will be more difficult if you try to become yourself. But avoiding this difficulty renders life meaningless. So discover who you are. And be it. Like mad!”
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