GAS TONI
A family business at a tipping point
On the day of the National Council elections, GAS TONI celebrated that the political system would finally be restructured and no stone would be left unturned. The awakening was bitter. Everything remains the same... or so it seems.
The TIB shows the everyday life of a medium-sized installation company in an improvised series between Kicklmania and left-wing obfuscation in identity politics. We are certain: there is too little laughter in the theater, and GAS TONI is here to change that.
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the heat pump boom, the suspension of gas supplies from Russia, crisis-ridden climatic conditions and never-ending new EU regulations, we experience a heating and installation company on the verge of collapse: the management neither believes in climate change nor is it complying with the smoking ban. Out of the EU as quickly as possible and foreigners out of Austria, and the gender star is ridiculed anyway. The “good” foreigners are out in the field and there are even a few left-wing “carers” at the computers in the office. How can a client company function at all in this explosive mix of political attitudes and opinions?
You can find out in the first season until the end of April on Thursdays once a month in the Quartier Theater im Bahnhof!
WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR:
GAS TONI 1, 23.1.2025
Episode 1 : Social funds
Because customers ignore the reminders, outstanding money has to be collected. Sabine wants to do this together with Martin, who has to put on the “collection costume” of old Gas Toni and the hours needed for collection are to be counted as double working time.
Meanwhile, on Esther's advice, Astrid takes her husband to the Balaton for rehab - she takes the money from the company account “because that's the way it's always been”.
Martin's money collection efforts don't work, but Mike, the Slovenian warehouse worker, gives Martin a gun to demand the money from the customers - but as a former community service worker, this solution is not feasible for Martin either.
Strengthened by the rehab, Astrid collects the debt - but the money has to go into the black money box because it can't be accounted for.
Episode 2: Envy
Martin is headhunted by the owner of the neighboring company - he has long been looking enviously at the building opposite during his smoke break and wishing he was there. The competitor's argument is understandable: there are simply no such artistically talented graphic designers in his party.
Sabine and Astrid are very disappointed in him - Sabine even demands the return of the 12 condoms she has bought over the years to spend time with Martin. Astrid discovers a photo in a photo album that suggests a closer relationship between Esther and the old gas Toni - Esther tries to make the photo disappear. Norwegian warehouse worker Mike reports a hug he received in the office to the “sexual assault” hotline.
After a few days, Martin returns to Gas Toni remorseful - his time at the neighboring company was hell - the only good thing was the food....
GAS TONI 2 , 30.1.2025
Episode 1: The budget hole
The order for Slovenian instantaneous water heaters has to be paid for - but there's no money in the till, and Martin wants an advance on his salary because he bought a new electric guitar with his Christmas black money. Sabine's former business partner, Susanne Vierer, turns up and wants compensation for the low-quality, cheap clothes that Sabine ordered at the time. The money from Astrid's private foundation that she had hoped would rescue her from her financial difficulties is also gone - her son and daughter-in-law have stolen it to finance their offspring's expensive kindergarten.
Feverish attempts to raise money begin - Esther has the idea of selling the Indonesian wooden tiger from Sabine's office on the Internet. Many offers come in from China and increase the value immeasurably - Martin then orders more tiger figures from the 3D printer.
All debts to Susanne Vierer can be settled and the thermal baths are also paid for. Due to the great success of the tiger sculpture, the company management briefly considers renaming the company TIGER TONI - but in the end, the Chinese warehouse worker Mike brings back the original sculpture and the company continues to exist as GAS TONI.
Episode 2: Nostalgia
The smell of Martin's leather jacket triggers a longing for the past in the office: Astrid and Sabine miss the cigarette smoke that always surrounded their father, Martin designs a retro gasoline in a dirndl and privately plans to form an Ostbahnkurti revival band. The brochures are also designed as they were back then - only the prices are the same as today.
Susi Bauer, the mother of Martin's son Robert, turns up and tells Martin that he is going to be a grandfather - but since Robert has become FPÖ mayor, he no longer wants to know anything about his son. Argentinian warehouse worker Mike makes advances to Esther and invites her to a tango course. Sabine regrets that her father is no longer at the company - the strong man is missing and there are too many opinions - everything used to be much easier.
Esther is very offended when she finds out that Mike is now going to the tango course with Susi - over a schnapps in the evening, Martin tells her about his successful Ostbahnkurti revival concert.
Team
Concept: Lorenz Kabas, Jacob Banigan
by and with Jacob Banigan, Beatrix Brunschko, Juliette Eröd, Ed.Hauswirth, Pia Hierzegger, Eva Hofer, Elisabeth Holzmeister, Lorenz Kabas, Monika Klengel, Helmut Köpping, Rupert Lehofer, Martina Zinner in a changing cast
Set design: Johanna Hierzegger, Helene Thümmel
Technology: Moke Rudolf-Klengel
Support: Claudia Holzer
(Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator)
