Ghost from a Perfect Place
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| Ghost from a Perfect Place | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Philip Ridley |
| Characters | Torchie Sparks
(Female, aged 76) Travis Flood (Male, aged 78) Rio Sparks (Female, aged 25) Miss Sulphur (Female, aged 17) Miss Kerosene (Female, aged 12) |
| Date premiered | 7 April 1994 |
| Place premiered | Hampstead Theatre London |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | in-yer-face theatre |
| Setting | "A dimly lit room in the East End of London" |
Ghost from a Perfect Place is the third stage play by Philip Ridley. It premiered at the Hampstead Theatre in London in 1994. The part of Travis Flood was played to much acclaim by the veteran, classical actor John Wood.
The play is the third and final installment in Ridley's unofficially titled "East End Gothic Trilogy", having been preceded by The Pitchfork Disney and The Fastest Clock In The Universe.[1]
The play caused a great deal of controversy at its première due to a scene where an old East London gangster, played by Wood, is tortured by a gang of girls. The theatre critic of The Guardian, Michael Billington, described the play as "pornographic." As with most of Ridley's work, however, the critical response was deeply divided, with Sheridan Morley describing it as "a masterpiece" and John Peter, of The Sunday Times, declaring, "Ridley's work is an acquired taste and it looks like I'm getting it."
This play, along with Ridley's The Pitchfork Disney and The Fastest Clock In The Universe are now generally regarded as seminal works in the development of the so-called in-yer-face theatre that emerged in Britain during the mid-1990s.
In 2014 the play was performed at the Arcola Theatre.[2]
Notable Productions
Premiere
7 April 1994 at Hampstead Theatre, London, directed by Matthew Llyod.
- Torchie Sparks - Bridget Turner
- Travis Flood - John Wood
- Rio Sparks - Trevyn McDowell
- Miss Sulphur - Rachel Power
- Miss Kerosene - Katie Tyrrell
2014 Revival[3]
11 September 2014 at the Arcola Theatre, London, directed by Russell Bolam.
- Torchie Sparks - Sheila Reid
- Travis Flood - Michael Feast
- Rio Sparks - Florence Hall
- Miss Sulphur - Scarlett Brookes
- Miss Kerosene - Rachel Redford
Further reading
- Sierz, Aleks (2001). In-Yer-Face Theatre: British Drama Today. Faber and Faber Limited. ISBN 0-571-20049-4. Pages 40 – 46.
- Sierz, Aleks (2012). Modern British Playwriting: The 1990s: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations. Methuen Drama. ISBN 9781408181331. Pages 104 - 108.
- Allison, Natalie and Sarah Stribley Productions (2014). Ghost from a Perfect Place: Practical Resources Pack.
