DrAmA fOrM 4

GULP AND GASP by John Townsend

SYNOPSIS

This is a melodrama about a villain, Lord Septic is a greedy man who longs for power, money and fame. He is even capable of committing murder to get what he wants. He owns the railways and is after the Gatsby gold. Crouch as the manservant of Lord Septic is a bully who likes to bully other people when Lord Septic is not around. He bullies Rose, a blind flower girl who reaches the railway to sell flowers to get money to treat her mother. She is rescued by the hero, Percy who turns to be Sir Percy in the end of the drama. They fall in love. Later, Percy learns he is the heir to the Gatsby gold and is known as Sir Percy. Lord Septic loses everything. This is very interesting drama and an enjoyable too as the writer plays with the words intelligently.

THEMES

• Pride goes before fall
• Greed is  destructive
• Innocence and beauty

MORAL VALUES

• Greed will lead to a downfall.
• We should live a humble and honest life.
• Do not bully other people when you have the power.
• Be considerate.

SETTING

• An empty train station
• A cold foggy night

PLOT

• EXPOSITION – Lord Septic, the villain, and his manservant Crouch, a groveling bully, are waiting for the midnight express at the train station. Lord Septic owns all the train stations and he wants wealth and power. He loves to brag about his wealth and success. Crouch is the manservant who sometimes fail to understand what the master tells him.
• RISING ACTION/CONFLICT – Rose, a blind flower girl comes to the station. She wants to sell flowers to help cure her mother. Crouch bullies her, as ordered by Lord Septic,  and Percy, the dashing hero comes in to help her. He tells her about himself.
• CLIMAX – Lord Septic hits Percy and ties Rose to the train track. Percy runs off to try and stop the train coming down the track.
• FALLING ACTION – Percy is able to stop the train using his long jack and Rose is saved. Later, he learns that  he is Sir Percy Gatsby and is the right heir to the Gatsby Gold.
• RESOLUTION – Percy is able to tie Lord Septic and Crouch. They are  waiting to be picked up by the police. Percy, the hero, proposes Rose and she agrees to marry him.

CHARACTERS

• Lord Septic, the villain
• Crouch the bully
• Rose the damsel in distress
• Percy the hero

LANGUAGE AND STYLE

• Simple and clear language
• Dialogue – exaggeration, repetition of words
• Alliteration