Anders Lustgarten The Hamster

(5 stars; 2 reviews)

Things are going to get out of hand for David and Nicola soon after they realise their hamster's unique capacity for growth. It's getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Life has been tough but soon it's improving dramatically. Money is rolling in as people queue up to view the rapacious rodent. But how long can it last? Where will it end? It must be like the economists say - growth is guaranteed to get us out of the grim situation that we find ourselves in. Or will it? The Hamster is a dark comedy inspired by an observation made by the New Economics Foundation; a Hamster doubles in weight every week until maturity, after which its growth slows down. If it were to continue growing at that rate it would reach nine billion tonnes by its first birthday. This is why growth, in nature, is limited - and yet we are told that economic growth should continue for ever and ever. Cast:
Nicola ...... Louise Ford 
David ..... Nick Chambers 
Mr Marshall ...... Patrick Driver 
Mrs Bannister ..... Illona Linthwaite
 Reg Taylor ...... John Yapp
 Robert Benson ..... Dominic Hawksley Other parts played by Bill Nash, Ania Tomaszewska-Nelson,  Avita Jay, Oliver Lavery  and Anders Lustgarten Sound and Music: Alisdair McGregor and Howard Jacques Thanks to Nishil Solanki, Andrew Sims and Viki Johnson Producer/Director: Boz Temple-Morris
A Holy Mountain production for BBC Radio 4. Afternoon Drama: The Hamster First broadcast: Thu 1st Dec 2011, 14:15 on BBC Radio 4 FM

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.