Tea 'N' Crisp (Third Run)
An Invitation for tea with Quentin Crisp
Read an indepth interview with Richard.
Richard Louis James first brought Quentin back to life at the Ashby Theatre, 1901 Ashby Avenue, Berkley, CA.
A second run soon followed at The San Francisco Playhouse on 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th of February 2008.
He brought it back again by popular demand every Sunday during July and August 2008 at the The San Francisco Playhouse.
Richard has now produced a promo of his show.
Read the full review here
Text version of review.
90 BILLION MARVELOUS CRISPY QUIPS is what you get in this remarkable, wondrous channeling of the notorious Quentin Crisp. Richard Louis James plays Quentin Crisp, the daring Homo of England, who was both beloved and hated by some because he dared to ‘come out’ in front of the Queen and all of England.
Why stay home and surf the internet for some titillation, or watch a Reality show on T.V. – when you can have so much more fun enjoying this live and undeniably Genius portrayal of one of the World’s great personalities.
James is a winner. He never gets out of character. This is no blink-and-you’ll miss-it stuff – absolutely not. James totally unleashes the complex personality of Crisp. To paraphrase: “Someone once said to me – “It’s a shame that Joan Crawford died old and an alcoholic.” “I said. I would think that would be the best way to go!” Here is another great gem: “People always say, ‘take your place in society.’ Don’t do that! Let society form around you.”
This is my second time to see the inventive show…and it still is a stunning Tour De Force. The show has rightly been brought back to the SF Playhouse by popular demand.
James as Crisp also said: “Someone asked me if I’m a practicing Homosexual. “Oh No, I said. I’m perfect.” In the question and answer segment in the second act – someone in the audience asked. “What would be a stylish job?” Crisp: “If you can arrange it, never work!” The Question and answer time with the audience and Crisp is just fabulous and profound. It’s just packed with riveting pleasures of the unexpected. Richard Louis James slams his well-dressed foot on the pedal to the floor and never slows down. It’s perfect – and I still love it!
AT THE SF PLAYHOUSE SUNDAYS IN JULY & AUGUST – 2:30 PM.
RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) –trademarked-
WINNER – THE LEE HARTGRAVE FAME AWARD GOES TO RICHARD LEWIS JAMES FOR BEST SOLO SHOW.
San Francisco Bay Guardian Online
Tea 'N' Crisp
This August, Sunday afternoons spent anywhere but SF Playhouse are tragically squandered, since it means missing tea with the inimitable Quentin Crisp — persuasively reincarnated by actor-playwright Richard Louis James, whose beguiling solo show feels less like homage than an intimate encounter with the Naked Civil Servant himself. James's shrewd deployment of Crisp's own words and manners offers more than mere imitation of the defiantly sui generis Englishman, homosexual icon, and longtime Manhattanite (although the look is perfectly far out, from the crimson dye-job to the lapel brooch to the painted nails). Distilling the Crispian worldview into a two-act monologue on the nature of "style," capped by impromptu responses to written questions from the audience, the show is really a consultation, one properly belonging neither to the salon nor the psychiatrist's office but to the timeless club of Wildean individualists whose members know to "stay right where you are, and let society form itself around you."
Auntie Quentin Tells Us to Be Ourselves
By Albert Goodwyn
Published August 28 2008
Whatever your sexual orientation might be, Quentin Crisp has an important lesson for you: your own style is everything. Actor Richard Louis James portrays the witty English actor, model and raconteur in Sunday Tea ‘N’ Crisp at SF Playhouse. Crisp (born Dennis Charles Pratt; “Wouldn’t you change your name?”) explains style using examples ranging from Tallulah Bankhead to Jesus Christ.
This is the important theme weaving throughout James’ hour and twenty-minute desultory monologue. No matter how far he seems to stray afield with anecdotes and observations, he always comes back to the notion of personal style and its importance to a well-lived life. The crazy old auntie queen portrayed by James has a very penetrating message to deliver and she does it with sardonic humor and deep understanding.
James commands the stage well as he stands in his in black suit accented with lavender and pink. Occasionally he sits and pours himself some tea. He plays deliberately crotchety in his platinum wig with pink highlights. Using a story about Joan Crawford, he promises to “cure you of your freedom,” explaining that we fashion our own chains and that style is something you impose upon others with your “consciousness and awareness of one’s own … character.” He even says that we must “learn to urinate with style.”
“Beauty is a complete waste of time,” he insists, referring to being “disfigured” by characteristics of homosexuality. Quoting Sarah Bernhardt, admiring of her nerve, he said, “You won’t require any real talent to present your chosen self image.” He even quoted Andy Warhol: “Concern with other people is a mistake.”
After the interval, he propounded that one should seek cohabitation rather than sex. “Romance is the style in sex,” he insists. He is disdainful of the attitude that “I ejaculate, therefore I am.” Still weaving together the threads into the substance of style, he read from question cards written by audience members during the interval, still always relating the answers to the nature of style in his improvisations. He expounded on the popularity of Evita Peron and on Jesus’ lifestyle.
Quentin took the QC name from the brand name on a bag of chips he happened to spot during an interview. Quentin had a highly successful film, The Naked Civil Servant, which led him to international lecture tours and performances. According to James, “For nearly a century Quentin was a beacon for tolerance and individuality delivering a message of unity and peace.” James’ tribute to crisp is hilarious and deeply moving.
Richard Louis James first brought Quentin back to life at the Ashby Theatre, 1901 Ashby Avenue, Berkley, CA.
A second run soon followed at The San Francisco Playhouse on 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th of February 2008.
He brought it back again by popular demand every Sunday during July and August 2008 at the The San Francisco Playhouse.
Richard has now produced a promo of his show.
Reviews - July/August 2008
Lee Hartgraves - in BeyondChron July 30 2008Read the full review here
Text version of review.
90 BILLION MARVELOUS CRISPY QUIPS is what you get in this remarkable, wondrous channeling of the notorious Quentin Crisp. Richard Louis James plays Quentin Crisp, the daring Homo of England, who was both beloved and hated by some because he dared to ‘come out’ in front of the Queen and all of England.
Why stay home and surf the internet for some titillation, or watch a Reality show on T.V. – when you can have so much more fun enjoying this live and undeniably Genius portrayal of one of the World’s great personalities.
James is a winner. He never gets out of character. This is no blink-and-you’ll miss-it stuff – absolutely not. James totally unleashes the complex personality of Crisp. To paraphrase: “Someone once said to me – “It’s a shame that Joan Crawford died old and an alcoholic.” “I said. I would think that would be the best way to go!” Here is another great gem: “People always say, ‘take your place in society.’ Don’t do that! Let society form around you.”
This is my second time to see the inventive show…and it still is a stunning Tour De Force. The show has rightly been brought back to the SF Playhouse by popular demand.
James as Crisp also said: “Someone asked me if I’m a practicing Homosexual. “Oh No, I said. I’m perfect.” In the question and answer segment in the second act – someone in the audience asked. “What would be a stylish job?” Crisp: “If you can arrange it, never work!” The Question and answer time with the audience and Crisp is just fabulous and profound. It’s just packed with riveting pleasures of the unexpected. Richard Louis James slams his well-dressed foot on the pedal to the floor and never slows down. It’s perfect – and I still love it!
AT THE SF PLAYHOUSE SUNDAYS IN JULY & AUGUST – 2:30 PM.
RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) –trademarked-
WINNER – THE LEE HARTGRAVE FAME AWARD GOES TO RICHARD LEWIS JAMES FOR BEST SOLO SHOW.
San Francisco Bay Guardian Online
Tea 'N' Crisp
This August, Sunday afternoons spent anywhere but SF Playhouse are tragically squandered, since it means missing tea with the inimitable Quentin Crisp — persuasively reincarnated by actor-playwright Richard Louis James, whose beguiling solo show feels less like homage than an intimate encounter with the Naked Civil Servant himself. James's shrewd deployment of Crisp's own words and manners offers more than mere imitation of the defiantly sui generis Englishman, homosexual icon, and longtime Manhattanite (although the look is perfectly far out, from the crimson dye-job to the lapel brooch to the painted nails). Distilling the Crispian worldview into a two-act monologue on the nature of "style," capped by impromptu responses to written questions from the audience, the show is really a consultation, one properly belonging neither to the salon nor the psychiatrist's office but to the timeless club of Wildean individualists whose members know to "stay right where you are, and let society form itself around you."
Auntie Quentin Tells Us to Be Ourselves
By Albert Goodwyn
Published August 28 2008
Whatever your sexual orientation might be, Quentin Crisp has an important lesson for you: your own style is everything. Actor Richard Louis James portrays the witty English actor, model and raconteur in Sunday Tea ‘N’ Crisp at SF Playhouse. Crisp (born Dennis Charles Pratt; “Wouldn’t you change your name?”) explains style using examples ranging from Tallulah Bankhead to Jesus Christ.
This is the important theme weaving throughout James’ hour and twenty-minute desultory monologue. No matter how far he seems to stray afield with anecdotes and observations, he always comes back to the notion of personal style and its importance to a well-lived life. The crazy old auntie queen portrayed by James has a very penetrating message to deliver and she does it with sardonic humor and deep understanding.
James commands the stage well as he stands in his in black suit accented with lavender and pink. Occasionally he sits and pours himself some tea. He plays deliberately crotchety in his platinum wig with pink highlights. Using a story about Joan Crawford, he promises to “cure you of your freedom,” explaining that we fashion our own chains and that style is something you impose upon others with your “consciousness and awareness of one’s own … character.” He even says that we must “learn to urinate with style.”
“Beauty is a complete waste of time,” he insists, referring to being “disfigured” by characteristics of homosexuality. Quoting Sarah Bernhardt, admiring of her nerve, he said, “You won’t require any real talent to present your chosen self image.” He even quoted Andy Warhol: “Concern with other people is a mistake.”
After the interval, he propounded that one should seek cohabitation rather than sex. “Romance is the style in sex,” he insists. He is disdainful of the attitude that “I ejaculate, therefore I am.” Still weaving together the threads into the substance of style, he read from question cards written by audience members during the interval, still always relating the answers to the nature of style in his improvisations. He expounded on the popularity of Evita Peron and on Jesus’ lifestyle.
Quentin took the QC name from the brand name on a bag of chips he happened to spot during an interview. Quentin had a highly successful film, The Naked Civil Servant, which led him to international lecture tours and performances. According to James, “For nearly a century Quentin was a beacon for tolerance and individuality delivering a message of unity and peace.” James’ tribute to crisp is hilarious and deeply moving.