Gasping: The play

by Ben Elton

The script of Ben Elton's first play. A satire on big business, the media and product exploitation. Designer air proves to be the marketing phenomenon of the decade, but as demand outstrips supply, Lockheart Industries plunders the Third World for resources. The world is starting to gasp, and only the biggest suckers survive.

Lockheart Industries are making big money - if God wanted to buy into their stock he'd have to think twice and talk to his people. They have a profit curve wound so far round the room that it looks like a "Blue Peter" Christmas appeal. But they want more.

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Humor, Theatre

Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Ben Elton was born on 3 May 1959, in Catford, South London. The youngest of four, he went to Godalming Grammar School, joined amateur dramatic societies and wrote his first play at 15. He wanted to be a stagehand at the local theatre, but instead did A-Level Theatre Studies and studied drama at Manchester University in 1977.

His career as both performer and writer encompasses some of the most memorable and incisive comedy of the past twenty years. His groundbreaking work as a TV stand-up comedian set the (high) standard of what was to follow. He has received accolades for his hit TV sitcoms, The Young Ones, Blackadder and The Thin Blue Line.

More recently he has had successes with three hit West End musicals, including the global phenomenon We Will Rock You. He has written three plays for the London stage, including the multi-award-winning Popcorn. Ben's international bestselling novels include Stark, Inconceivable, Dead Famous and High Society. He won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award for the novel Popcorn.

Elton lives in Perth with his Aussie wife Sophie and three children.

Reviews

[Priyanka Vavilikolanu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilarious play which is a satire on capitalism, especially marketing. It works better if you imagine the actor Hugh Laurie playing the character Philip - something that did happen on the London stage scene.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

typical Ben Elton and that is all that needs to be said

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can see where a top notch, well-rehearsed performance of this play could be hilarious, but reading it is not very entertaining. It is far too cold. We're not meant to care about any of the characters; they're just there to make the jokes and perform the pratfalls. I don't see any professional modern theater mounting this, and it would be extremely difficult for amateurs to pull off. So reading it is all that's available to us, and it's not successful on that level.

[Mim · Rating 4 out of 5]

annoying writing, maybe not the best format, but i love a dystopian idea

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will declare at the outset I am a fan of Ben Elton's writing, ethics and comedy. Some of his books are amongst my all time favourites.

The premise of the play is to draw a parallel to the impact of corporate greed on those less affluent. I felt the fundamental idea was good and the delivery was a little rough. Having worked at a managerial level in a large corporation or two I could relate to the sycophantic behaviour of Sandy and Phillip towards the 'Chief'.

The growing gulf between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots', the increasing dominance of the corporate lobbyists and the sale of public utilities are all linked back to corporate and personal greed. How much wealth is enough for the richest in our society? Do we need to take the air the people breath?

My criticisms of the book are limited to the 'dumb' language that is occasionally used, for example instead of saying appetisers or hors d'oevres using terms like 'snacky things'. This is a common tactic in Ben's comedy that I don't like.

The play was on recently in the city where I live and I only saw the posters after the closing date. I will try to see it next time.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first exposure to Ben Elton's work was while watching Gasping unfold across a London stage, all those years ago. Like other great writers, Elton helps open our minds and reminds us that we must see the world for what it is, rather than what others tell us to see. This particular work shouts: WAKE-THE-FOOK-UP!

[A. Dawes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saw this in Perth and thought it a clever satire relating to our world of consumers, capitalism and resource magnates. Agreed with the sentiment. Not as laugh out loud as some of Elton's other work but a successful play, nevertheless.

[Miskil Dharmadhikari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent satirical comment on the ruthless and shortsighted world of capitalism.
The British wry wit makes for an entertaining yet thought provoking play.

[David]

If air was oil ... lots of sucking and blowing ... a farce ... isn’t it? ... isn’t it?