Quentin And Miss Stritch

Elaine Stritch was in London, during a run of Two's Company. She had suffered a bad attack of diabetes, and had to be hospitalised.

While in hospital one of the nurses asked her if there was anything she could do to make her feel better. She replied
"yea you can get me Quentin Crisp dear."

The nurse actually knew Quentin and within 30 minutes Quentin was at her bedside.

Miss Stritch once told Quentin that the most important thing for any stage performer to do, was to get the audience to love them.

Many years later Quentin, while repeating this advice to a friend, he added

"I take it one step further, I get them to pity me."