Image: Resident Alien photograph by Sarah Walker.
It takes courage bordering on stupidity to claim that Princess Diana ‘got what she deserved’ when she met her untimely death in a Paris tunnel or that AIDS was ‘a fad’. But such was the flagrant disregard for self-censorship that made Quentin Crisp as widely criticised as he was idolised. Resident Alien presents Crisp in his latter years, encamped in his small East Village apartment, expounding on the issues of the day. His body has succumb to age and he wallows in an environment to which he shows as much concern as he might for the judgement of others in every other aspect of his life. His mind, and by extension his words, remain as finely edged as the day he first unsheathed them in public.
Paul Capsis is simply outstanding in the title role. From the moment he opens his mouth, he is completely and truly Quentin Crisp. His every affectation, his presence and his attitude of supreme confidence in every word that he says is honest, regardless of whether or not it’s true, capture the essence of Quentin Crisp. In what is essentially a monologue, with little action, it takes words and delivery of the highest quality to hold an audience wrapped and Tim Fountain’s work shows it has almost as good a longevity as its subject.
Crisp’s caustic wit, insight and candour offer an attraction reserved for mode of being that is sadly dying out and one wanders if had he been born 70 years later, whether he would have been tolerated, much less celebrated. To be feted for one’s authenticity and honesty requires maintaining it long enough for it to be accepted as more than an act intended to realise some personal gain. It’s an often thankless and unrewarding task, but for those who persevere, they gain the ability to say almost anything, a prize which so many desire but very few wish to possess.
The internet offers instant fame and shame. It gives everyone a platform and an avenue to speak but it’s a mob, a mob that stalks any excuse to excuse to lash out in torrent of abuse, masked as righteous indignation. The result is a public discourse carefully constrained to avoid damaging controversy and the transgression of acceptable conduct, in most cases, resulting instant ex-communication.
Quentin Crisp never sort nor claimed public acceptance but happily accepted the rewards it lavished on him as his dues reward. His ability to create such a wonderful irony is perhaps proof that he was right. Resident Alien is engrossing and enlightening despite its sombre setting and thoughts—a requiem for one of the casualties of the interconnected, digital age.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Presented by Cameron Lukey
By Tim Fountain
​Cast Paul Capsis
Director Gary Abrahams
Set/Costume Designer Romanie Harper
Lighting Designer Rob Sowinski
Sound Designer Daniel Nixon
Fortyfive Downstairs
25 May – 12 June
