LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
A Tte Tte with Quentin Crisp |
by Bryon Predika |
Quentin Crisp is an international treasure. This fey, funny and flamboyant wit is now in his 90s and more delightful than ever. We spoke in a Camp Rehoboth exclusive phone interview: B.P. How are you, Mr. Crisp? Q.C. I am packing for a speaking engagement in Canada, so I am more than happy to take a break to speak with you. B.P. When will we see you locally? Q.C. You will be presenting me, Mr. Predika, you tell me! (Quentin Crisp will be appearing Saturday evening, June 19, 1999 at Center Stage, 410-332-0033, Baltimore, MD in his one man evening, The Wit and Wisdom of Quentin Crisp and a very intimate High Tea on Sunday afternoon, June 20 at the Axis Theatre, 410-243-5237, Baltimore. Both performances benefit the Axis Theatre.) B.P.: We are all looking forward to having you back in Baltimore. Q.C. You and your partner were so kind to me when you brought me to Baltimore fourteen years ago, how could I refuse your pleas to help raise money for this Axis Theatre. What is it? B.P. Axis has been called Marylands unofficial Gay, Feminist, and Jewish Theatre. We do cutting edge new plays, and...wait! I am supposed to be interviewing you! Q.C. Lead on, dear boy. B.P. I understand from your agents that your publishers have re-issued several of your books, most notably, "Naked Civil Servant" and "Resident Alien, the New York Diaries". Q.C. Yes, so they tell me. B.P. Well then, we will have them for sale in the lobby. Will you, as usual, be autographing books after the performance? Q.C. Most assuredly! I adore meeting all the wonderful persons who bother to come and see me. Just imagine! At my age, I have groupies! Mr. Sting wrote that song about me"An Englishman in New York", and HE has groupies. But me...Im thrilled. B.P. You did cause quite a buzz with your performance as Queen Elizabeth in "Orlando". How did you find it...? Q.C. (interrupting) Dear boy, at my age I dont bother to look! B.P. Naughty! Q.C. Yeees!?! I hope to be able to impart some clues as to living with my style to my audience in Baltimore. Style is everything! B.P. Oh Yes! Did you know that Gertrude Stein was from Baltimore? Q.C. Really? Well, everyone has to be from somewhere. Miss Stein was able to use a smallsome say non-existentgift as a colorless fluid in which to suspend a monstrous ego. But she had style! B.P. We look forward to your visit with us again! Q.C. As do I, dear boy! See you in June! You know, one of my favorite television programs is filmed in Baltimore, so I am a bit more familiar with your city than I was last time. B.P. Oh, somehow I thought you would be watching all those Masterpiece Theatres and such. Q.C. No, not at all. I worship the "cop" show. "Homicide" and "Law and Order." If they dont have a shooting and a car chase in the first ten minutes, I am not a very happy man! B.P. Ill look forward to taking you down to where they film much of "Homicide." Q.C. As will I, dear boy! See you in June! Axis Theatre Presents Quentin Crisp June 19 Axis Theatre presents The Wit and Wisdom of Quentin Crisp on Saturday, June 19, at the Pearlstone Theatre at Center Stage, 700 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. Tickets are $60.00 each and include a pre-performance reception at 6:30 p.m., catered by Biddle Street Caterers, with the one-man show at 8 p.m. A champagne reception, sponsored by Dicks D.C. Eagle and Ms. Desserts, follows where theatregoers may meet Mr. Crisp. He will also autograph his books, which will be on sale in the lobby. The Pearlstone Theatre seats 564 people. Tickets are available by phone with all major credit cards at 410-332-0033. On the following day, June 20, at the Axis Theatre, 3600 Clipper Mill Road, Baltimore, MD 21211, true fans of both Mr. Crisp and the theatre are invited to An Intimate Conversation with Quentin Crisp. At 4:30 p.m. Mr. Crisp will delight a group of only 68 patrons with his wit and wisdom, answer questions from the audience, and follow this with a High Tea complete with light libations and gifts, courtesy of Berthas Restaurant in Fells Point, and the Gallery Restaurant and Bar. Tickets for this intimate afternoon are $150.00 each. The remaining tickets for the Axis June 20 performance are available by phone with all major credit cards at 410-243-5237. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 3, April 9, 1999 |