Oct 13, 2014
This episode was recorded in London.
Let it be known to the the universe that Tom Rhodes Radio gives Mark Farrelly's one man show 'Quentin Crisp' a 5 star review.
This show invites libation imbibement and encourages you to be yourself whatever you wish that self to be. Being exactly what you are even if that is a bore.
Mark was doing his Quentin Crisp solo show at the Gilded Balloon for the Edinburgh Fringe festival and I met him about half way through the festival's run at the Loft bar, the private bar for the entertainers and artists doing shows there. I had so many deep conversations with him over the last 2 weeks of the festival and I liked his show much I thought it an imperative that he be a guest on my show. After our Edinburgh run we both went to London, me to do my show at the Soho theater and Mark to do his at the St. James theater.
My wife Ashna and I went to see his show again in London and then we invited Mark over to have a few bottles of wine and record this conversation in our rented flat.
His show at the St. James theater was brilliant with the verve and excitement of live performance that Mark brought to his character and since it was in the evening with alcoholic beverages flowing each of the excellently written lines of dialogue hit their targets making the room explode with laughter. Mark told me he loved the message of Quentin Crisp because it wasn't about being gay it was about being yourself.
In this conversation we talk about the harshness of criticism, the meaning of life and the most interesting people who ever lived. "Writing 87,000 reviews would never feel as good as giving one performance." In today's narcissistic society no one knows who they are and what to believe in. Quentin Crisp's life told by Mark Farrelly is one to gain inspiration from and peppered with Quentin's sharp quotes on life we are reminded of why Quentin Crisp is worth remembering.
"We live in a pretty dreary world were most people don't even have the decency to be themselves." In this episode you will learn why it is our excessive freedom is what makes us miserable and why having personal style will cure you of your excessive freedom. He is one of the people who I enjoyed speaking with the most on my most recent visit to the Queen's British Isles. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Mark Farrelly!
Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners
End song: Sting – Englishman In New York
Recorded in London, September 2014