The Fastest Clock in the Universe

The Fastest Clock in the Universe
Poster advertising 2013 revival of The Fastest Clock in the Universe at the Old Red Lion Theatre.
Written by	Philip Ridley
Characters	Three male and two female
Date premiered	14 May 1992
Place premiered	Hampstead Theatre, London
Original language	English
Genre	In-yer-face theatre, Black Comedy
Setting	"A dilapidated room above an abandoned factory in the East End of London"

The Fastest Clock in the Universe is a two act play by Philip Ridley.^[1] It was Ridley's second stage play and premiered at the Hampstead Theatre, London on 14 May 1992 and featured Jude Law in one of his early major stage roles in the part of Foxtrot Darling. The production was the second collaboration between Ridley and director Matthew Lloyd, who would go on to direct the original productions for the majority of Ridley's plays until 2000.^[2]

Like Ridley's previous play The Pitchfork Disney, The Fastest Clock was considered shocking for its time but generated considerable more controversy due to it featuring scenes of violence onstage as well as descriptions of animal cruelty. Nevertheless the play was a major success, winning a variety of awards.^[3]

The play is the second entry in Ridley's unofficially titled "East End Gothic Trilogy", preceded by The Pitchfork Disney and followed by Ghost from a Perfect Place.^[4] Though initially receiving a divisive response from critics these plays have grown in reputation and have been recognised as major works in the development of In-yer-face theatre^[5] which radically changed British Theatre in the 1990s.

Story

In a flat above an abandoned fur factory in the East End of London lives Cougar Glass. At thirty years of age he is obsessed with his self-image, doing all he can to appear young. He lives with his partner Captain Tock who he often makes wait on him, much to the Captain's dismay. As Cougar has an intense fear of ageing he regularly holds birthday parties where he pretends to be only nineteen years of age. He also uses these parties to invite young people whom he has falsely befriended to his flat, so as to seduce (and possibly even murder) them for his own pleasure. The victim of today's party is Foxtrot Darling, a 15 year-old schoolchild who Cougar has manipulated by becoming a new role model for him in wake of his brother's death. However when Foxtrot arrives he has unexpectedly brought along Sherbet Gravel, a streetwise 17 year-old girl who is going to be Foxtrot's wife and claims to be pregnant with his child. As the play progresses the atmosphere gradually intensifies as Sherbet takes control of the party, aware that Cougar is not what he appears to be.

Characters

Cougar Glass - A thirty year old man, he appears to be very narcissistic, caring little about others and instead being fixated with his own appearance. He also becomes hysterical and feels physically ill and whenever he is reminded of his real age.

Captain Tock - A heavily balding 49 year old man. He has a job running an antique shop and has an obsession with birds. He is very wary of his health, taking vitamins and refraining from eating unhealthy food.

Foxtrot Darling - A 15 year-old school child. He has found a new role model in Cougar after the loss of his brother.

Sherbet Gravel - A streetwise 17 year old girl. She originally was the girlfriend of Foxtrot's brother until his death. She since has become Foxtrot's girlfriend and claims to be pregnant with his child. She yearns to have a more normal life, having previously been involved with gangs.

Cheetah Bee - 88 years of age, she is the landlady as her husband owned the fur factory below years before. Whenever Cougar gets distressed from being reminded of his real age she arrives and coaxes him by showing how old and unattractive she is by comparison.

Notable productions

Premiere

14 May 1992 at Hampstead Theatre, London, directed by Mathew Lloyd.

• Cougar Glass - Con O'Neill
• Captain Tock - Jonathan Coy
• Foxtrot Darling - Jude Law
• Sherbert Gravel - Emma Amos
• Cheetah Bee - Elizabeth Bradley

Hampstead Theatre 50th Anniversary Celebrations^[6]

22 September 2009 at Hampstead Theatre, London, directed by Edward Dick.

• Cougar Glass - Alec Newman
• Captain Tock - Finbar Lynch
• Foxtrot Darling - Neet Mohan
• Sherbert Gravel - Jaime Winstone
• Cheetah Bee - Eileen Page

2013 revival

5 November 2013 at the Old Red Lion Theatre, London, directed by Tom O'Brien.

• Cougar Glass - Joshua Blake
• Captain Tock - Ian Houghton
• Foxtrot Darling - Dylan Llewellyn
• Sherbert Gravel - Nancy Sullivan
• Cheetah Bee - Ania Marson

Awards

• 1993 - The Meyer-Whitworth Award^[7]
• 1992 - A Time Out Award
• 1992 - Critics' Circle Theatre Award for most promising playwright^[8]
• 1992 - Evening Standard Award for most promising playwright^[9]

Further reading

• Urban, Ken (2007). Ghosts from an Imperfect Place: Philip Ridley's Nostalgia
• Rebellato, Dan (2011). The Methuen Drama Guide to Contemporary British Playwrights. Methuen Drama. ISBN 9781408122785. Pages 430 - 3.
• Sierz, Aleks (2012). Modern British Playwriting: The 1990s: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations. Methuen Drama. ISBN 9781408181331. Pages 98 – 104.
• Dorney, Kate and Gray, Frances (2013). "The Fastest Clock in the Universe". Played in Britain: Modern Theatre in 100 Plays. A&C Black. ISBN 9781408164808. Pages 146-47.

References

External links

• TheatreVOICE special: full-length programme about Philip Ridley’s The Fastest Clock in the Universe