Plague! The Musical
Encyclopedia
Plague! The Musical is a musical with book, music and lyrics by David Massingham and Matthew Townend. It is a dark comedy based loosely on the events of the Great Plague of London
in 1665-1666.
Plague premiered in 2008 at The Questors Theatre in Ealing, London before transferring to C venues
at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it was named a 2008 sell out show. A new production was performed at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It was again performed at C venues
with London previews at Upstairs at The Gatehouse
.
During his training, Clive befriends Milly, the buxom barmaid of the local pub, and also the beggars of London thanks to his generosity. He also wins the attentions of the beautiful Isabella, daughter of the evil Alchemist who plans to ruin the undertakers forever by distilling the fabled Elixir of life
.
The undertakers business is already suffering, however, and the pressure soon takes its toll on Clive's relationship with Isabella. Alone and distraught, Clive is approached by a sinister duo with an offer he can't refuse. He is led deep into the London sewers to meet the mysterious Rat King, a visionary patriarch who begs Clive to uncover the bones of a great martyr to rat-kind - Elman Squatcherd. In return, the Rat King promises that the business will prosper. Clive is swayed and delivers the exhumed remains to the sewer.
Unbeknownst to Clive, however, Elman Squatcherd was the last known victim of the Black Death
and the Rat King actually uses the remains to infect London with the deadly bubonic plague! His henchmen also steal the Elixir of life
to ensure that salvation is impossible.
The Londoners quickly assemble at the town hall looking for leadership but, without a cure, the devious Lord Mayor can only appease the mob with a scapegoat – the Alchemist. Desperate, Isabella turns to Clive to protect her father. Clive, however, has his own problems: he has been visited by an overworked Death and informed that he must end the plague or face the consequences. Clive soon realises that the rats must be behind everything and forms a plan to destroy them. The Rat King, however, is continually one step ahead and ambushes Clive, informing him that the age of rat has begun. All seems lost but, thanks to the timely assistance of the beggars and the undertaker, the Rat King falls to a watery grave taking the stolen Elixir of life
with him.
Returning to Isabella, Clive's heart is broken to learn that she has caught the plague and there are but a few precious moments before she passes away in his arms. Death appears to collect her prize but, instead, informs Clive that the Elixir has spread throughout the water system and that the plague has, against all odds, been cured. As a reward for his endeavour, she agrees to grant Isabella a reprieve.
All London celebrates the end of the disaster. Clive and Isabella are re-united, the Alchemist and the Undertaker put aside their differences, and even Death seems content, allowing herself to be wooed by the ever-daring Jerry. It is the indefatigable Rat King who has the last laugh, however, for he has just begun the next London-wide calamity by starting a small fire in a certain Pudding Lane
.
calling it "an astoundingly good production" and What's On Stage calling it "one of the most ridiculous, outrageous, over the top and watchable pieces of musical theatre in a long time". The Herald
called it "infectiously silly late night fun" while The Stage
commented "this is what you come to the fringe for". Other positive reviews were found in View From The Stalls, The Groggy Squirrel and BBC Beds, Herts and Bucks.
There also were some notable poor reviews with Broadway Baby branding Plague! "a mild rash" and Fest Magazine
commenting that Plague! was an "anarchic subversion of the musical tradition" imitated from the Rocky Horror Show. Hairline commented that although Plague is a "good idea with nice enjoyable sections" that "more thought and work is needed to produce a musical that can play to a Fringe audience for such a long period and keep them engaged and enthralled".
Great Plague of London
The Great Plague was a massive outbreak of disease in the Kingdom of England that killed an estimated 100,000 people, 20% of London's population. The disease is identified as bubonic plague, an infection by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, transmitted through a flea vector...
in 1665-1666.
Plague premiered in 2008 at The Questors Theatre in Ealing, London before transferring to C venues
C venues
C venues is the home of the largest theatre and new writing programme at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which is held annually in August each year...
at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it was named a 2008 sell out show. A new production was performed at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It was again performed at C venues
C venues
C venues is the home of the largest theatre and new writing programme at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which is held annually in August each year...
with London previews at Upstairs at The Gatehouse
Upstairs at The Gatehouse
Upstairs at The Gatehouse is a pub theatre in Highgate in the London Borough of Camden.The venue is a refurbished 1895 auditorium, upstairs from the Gatehouse pub, that has served over the years as a music hall, cinema, Masonic lodge, and a jazz and folk music club that once hosted a performance by...
.
Synopsis
It is 1665 and Clive Hucklefish has come to London to start a career as an actor on the London stage. Mugged and left for dead within minutes of arrival, he finds himself being loaded onto a cart by Jerry Muldoon, assistant to destitute undertaker Phil Anbury. Clive soon agrees to join the undertakers to help revive their failing business.During his training, Clive befriends Milly, the buxom barmaid of the local pub, and also the beggars of London thanks to his generosity. He also wins the attentions of the beautiful Isabella, daughter of the evil Alchemist who plans to ruin the undertakers forever by distilling the fabled Elixir of life
Elixir of life
The elixir of life, also known as the elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life and or eternal youth. Many practitioners of alchemy pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create...
.
The undertakers business is already suffering, however, and the pressure soon takes its toll on Clive's relationship with Isabella. Alone and distraught, Clive is approached by a sinister duo with an offer he can't refuse. He is led deep into the London sewers to meet the mysterious Rat King, a visionary patriarch who begs Clive to uncover the bones of a great martyr to rat-kind - Elman Squatcherd. In return, the Rat King promises that the business will prosper. Clive is swayed and delivers the exhumed remains to the sewer.
Unbeknownst to Clive, however, Elman Squatcherd was the last known victim of the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
and the Rat King actually uses the remains to infect London with the deadly bubonic plague! His henchmen also steal the Elixir of life
Elixir of life
The elixir of life, also known as the elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life and or eternal youth. Many practitioners of alchemy pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create...
to ensure that salvation is impossible.
The Londoners quickly assemble at the town hall looking for leadership but, without a cure, the devious Lord Mayor can only appease the mob with a scapegoat – the Alchemist. Desperate, Isabella turns to Clive to protect her father. Clive, however, has his own problems: he has been visited by an overworked Death and informed that he must end the plague or face the consequences. Clive soon realises that the rats must be behind everything and forms a plan to destroy them. The Rat King, however, is continually one step ahead and ambushes Clive, informing him that the age of rat has begun. All seems lost but, thanks to the timely assistance of the beggars and the undertaker, the Rat King falls to a watery grave taking the stolen Elixir of life
Elixir of life
The elixir of life, also known as the elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life and or eternal youth. Many practitioners of alchemy pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create...
with him.
Returning to Isabella, Clive's heart is broken to learn that she has caught the plague and there are but a few precious moments before she passes away in his arms. Death appears to collect her prize but, instead, informs Clive that the Elixir has spread throughout the water system and that the plague has, against all odds, been cured. As a reward for his endeavour, she agrees to grant Isabella a reprieve.
All London celebrates the end of the disaster. Clive and Isabella are re-united, the Alchemist and the Undertaker put aside their differences, and even Death seems content, allowing herself to be wooed by the ever-daring Jerry. It is the indefatigable Rat King who has the last laugh, however, for he has just begun the next London-wide calamity by starting a small fire in a certain Pudding Lane
Pudding Lane
Pudding Lane is a street in London, formerly the location of Thomas Farriner's bakehouse where the Great Fire of London began in 1666. It is off Eastcheap in the City of London, near London Bridge. The nearest tube station is Monument, a short distance to the west...
.
Song List
- Oh London Town
- I've Got It Made
- The Elixir Of Life
- Spend A Penny
- Never Felt Like This Before
- Coffin Of Your Past
- The Rat King
- Man and Rat
- It's Bubonic
- Someone To Blame
- Pay The Piper
- You're Here / So The Plague Was Cured
Critical Reception
Plague! was generally well received with the British Theatre GuideBritish Theatre Guide
The British Theatre Guide is an on-line database of specially commissioned reviews of theatre productions throughout the United Kingdom, together with theatre-related news reports, interviews with leading theatre practitioners, obituaries and comprehensive annual obituary listings.It also...
calling it "an astoundingly good production" and What's On Stage calling it "one of the most ridiculous, outrageous, over the top and watchable pieces of musical theatre in a long time". The Herald
The Herald (Glasgow)
The Herald is a broadsheet newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, and available throughout Scotland. As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 47,226, giving it a lead over Scotland's other 'quality' national daily, The Scotsman, published in Edinburgh.The 1889 to 1906 editions...
called it "infectiously silly late night fun" while The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
commented "this is what you come to the fringe for". Other positive reviews were found in View From The Stalls, The Groggy Squirrel and BBC Beds, Herts and Bucks.
There also were some notable poor reviews with Broadway Baby branding Plague! "a mild rash" and Fest Magazine
Fest Magazine
Fest Magazine is an Edinburgh-based arts magazine that publishes during the Edinburgh Festival each year. It is published in partnership with The Skinny and is a free, bi-weekly, A5 glossy publication.-History:...
commenting that Plague! was an "anarchic subversion of the musical tradition" imitated from the Rocky Horror Show. Hairline commented that although Plague is a "good idea with nice enjoyable sections" that "more thought and work is needed to produce a musical that can play to a Fringe audience for such a long period and keep them engaged and enthralled".