Elton's Gasping Revived for Watford

Ben Elton s comedy Gasping is gearing up for a second blast run at the Palace Theatre, Watford next month (5-23 May, previews from 1 May). The play, which enjoyed an extended West End run at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in 1990, will run 5 to 23 May (previews from 1 May). Elton has specially updated the script for a New Labour setting - and, presumably, one in which designer oxygen bars have moved from 1990's farce to 1998's reality.

In Gasping, bright young marketing exec Philip hatches the idea which soon starts to earn serious money for his boss. Following a ruthless advertising campaign, the new ‘suck and blow - a machine for personalised, de-toxed, pure air - takes off. But overnight success leads to a global crisis. When it comes, ultimately, to cash flow versus air flow, Philip discovers his conscience.

Elton is enjoying a buoyant dramatic season this spring. In addition to Gasping, his Popcorn, winner of the 1998 Olivier award for Best New Comedy, continues to pack in West End audiences at the Apollo, Shaftesbury Avenue. And his new play, Blast from the Past, which opened to positive reviews earlier this month at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, is rumoured to be transferring to the West End as well.

Director Paul Jepson collaborated with Elton on updating Gasping. His credits range from Fame in the West End to The Marriage of Figaro for the Covent Garden Opera Festival.

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