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. 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.

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.

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. 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 which radically changed British Theatre in the 1990s.

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.

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 whenever he is reminded of his real age.