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image: Quentin Crisp sitting at a table with his right hand touching his chin.
For those who admired him for his Intellect, Humanity and Courage.
Dedicated to the memory of
Quentin Crisp
"There are three reasons for becoming a writer: the first is that you need the money; the second that you have something to say that you think the world should know; the third is that you can't think what to do with the long winter evenings. "
- Quentin Crisp

Quentin and Oscar Wilde

Image: Oscar Wilde. Over the years the names of Quentin Crisp and Oscar Wilde were repeatedly mentioned in the same sentence. The two men were regarded as representing the epitome of style.

This distressed and dismayed Quentin, and he often railed against it.

Wilde said that in all things it was style and not sincerity or truth which mattered. But to Quentin truth and sincerity were the core essence of style.

However despite this he appeared in two stage plays relating to Wilde.

The Importance of Being Ernest
In 1979 Quentin appeared for the first time on stage in an acting role in Wilde's play 'The Importance of Being Ernest' directed by Evan Thompson. In this production he played Lady Bracknell.

Lord Alfred's Lover
The following year he was on stage again. This time in the play Lord Alfred's Lover. In this production he played the Marquess of Queensbury, the 75 year old father of Wilde's lover of the title. The Marquess of Queensbury was the man who brought about the downfall of Wilde through the now infamous court case.

The Balled of Reading Jail
Years later he also narrated a film "The Balled of Reading Jail" which was based on Wilde's famous speech in defence of the 'love which dare not speak its name'