" THE LITTLE FELLOW (OR THE QUEEN OF TARTS TELLS ALL)"

 Kate Hamill’s world premiere production “The Little Fellow or The Queen of Tarts Tells It All” is in a saucy, sexy, shameless and spicy production at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town through Nov. 19th. With Rob Lutfy at the helm and a solid cast of four playing several roles, the show is on solid footing

The subject is  based on the life and times of 19 century courtesan Harriette Wilson, who, at the age of thirteen became a prostitute at the biddings of her father. But it is at this point, later on in life that Hammill picks up the story. We learn the backstory as the action moves forward.

Keiko Green with MJ Sieber

In the words of Sir Walter Scott, “far from beautiful; but smart and saucy, with the manners of a schoolboy”…She was boisterous, rude vulgar, bold and outspoken, fought and chewed tobacco, spat and carried a riding crop and wore men’ clothing. She counted some of the most influential men in the country as her clients. She was called “The Little Fellow or The Queen of Tarts”.

Keiko Green and MJ Sieber

In 90+minutes the beautiful and sexy, moody and oft domineering Keiko Green  as Harriet is all of the above. When we first meet, she is chasing one of her clients around her sitting room and slapping him with her riding crop. That may be THE most playful scene in the show as it gets nastier as she meets up with others the likes of The Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley (MJ Sieber Green’s real-life husband)plays several men’s roles, including The Marquis of Worcester, Lord of Berwick & others), who at her demand promise her a yearly income if their names are not mentioned in her tell all books, which  made her a rich woman in her own right. As her reputation grew she was called the “top of the bottom”.

Rachael VanWormer and Keiko Green

Along the way, she has run ins with several women in the same profession like Julia and others (Sofia Jean Gomez) but with altogether different mindsets. Julia, another prostitute  is softer and when approached, choses her words carefully except when they disagree and then the shouting, over each other, begins.  

Past her prime ( the time is 1800’s) and rejected by many of her clients as they could, as at the time, men ruled and the only recourse she has is to grooms her maid Mary (Rachael VanWarmer) as a young and upcoming prostitute.

Keiko Green

Bitter and desolate Harriette, who was once at the top of her game, is showing the toll taken, is now an outcast, and one can see her devastation, alone in her home, but alone… 

After seeing Green’s performance in, “Exotic Deadly or the MSG Play”, there is no question of her super star quality. In one of her final scenes with  The Duke of Wellington  has tensions flying off the roof tops. This is a scene seared into the minds memory.

She is on stage the entire ninety minutes showing every side of her personalities. As for the rest of the cast one can only applaud the diverse nature of all. No easy task, this to speak in accents according to position in society and get it right.

Keiko Green and Sofia Jean Gomez

Yi-Chien Lee (scenic designer), Anne E. McMills (lighting designer), Steven Leffue (sound designer) Regency costume designs), Peter Herman (wigs and make-up design), and Alyssa Kane (properties designer) all contribute to making Cygnet’s world premiere of “The Little Fellow” a reason to rush to Old Town before it closes.

If you are not offended by the racy nature of the play, enjoy!

See you at the Theatre.

 

When:  Oct. 28 and runs through Nov. 19. Showtimes, 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

Where: Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Tickets: $27 and up

Phone: (619) 337-1525

Photo: Karli Cadel

Online: cygnettheatre.com