Plague! The Musical
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''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 The Great Plague of London, lasting from 1665 to 1666, was the last major epidemic of the bubonic plague to occur in England. It happened within the centuries-long Second Pandemic, a period of intermittent bubonic plague epidemics that origi ...
in 1665–1666. Plague premiered in 2008 at
The Questors Theatre The Questors Theatre is a theatre venue located in the London Borough of Ealing, west London. It is home of The Questors, a large theatre company which hosts a season of around twenty productions a year and is a member of the ''Little Theatre Gui ...
in Ealing, London before transferring t
C venues
at the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...
where it was named a 2008 sell out show. A new production was performed at the 2010
Edinburgh Fringe Festival The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...
. It was again performed a
C venues
with London previews at
Upstairs at The Gatehouse Upstairs at The Gatehouse is a small pub theatre in Highgate in the London Borough of Camden. The venue is a refurbished 1895 auditorium, upstairs from the Gatehouse pub, which has served over the years as a music hall, cinema, Masonic lodge, a ...
. Plague had its first U.S. debut in October 2013. Under the direction of Martin Bones, it was performed by the Marble Valley Players, in West Rutland, Vermont at the West Rutland Town Hall. Under the student-direction of Will Giering, who also starred as The Beggar Lord in the U.S. debut, Plague was performed, again, by Ithaca College in November 2018.


Synopsis

It is 1665 and Clive Hucklefish has come to
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
to start a career as an
actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...
on the
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
stage. Mugged and left for dead within minutes of arrival (''Oh London Town!''), he finds himself being loaded onto a cart by Jerry Muldoon, assistant to destitute
undertaker A funeral director, also known as an undertaker (British English) or mortician (American English), is a professional involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks often entail the embalming and burial or cremation of the dead, as w ...
Phil Anbury. Realizing that Clive is not in fact dead, the initially disappointed Jerry escorts Clive to the local pub 'The Lousy Duck' and befriends him, introducing Clive to Milly, the pub's buxom barmaid and Jerry's sometime girlfriend. Jerry explains the difficulties of making it to the London Stage, and tells Clive his story of how he became involved with undertaking. Clive agrees to join the undertakers to help revive their failing business (''I've Got It Made!''). Anbury appears and welcomes Clive aboard. Jerry celebrates by showing Clive how to win the attentions of the local women, but Clive foolishly targets the haughty Isabella, who rejects his advances. Anbury's hated rival, the
Alchemist Alchemy (from Arabic: ''al-kīmiyā''; from Ancient Greek: χυμεία, ''khumeía'') is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscience, protoscientific tradition that was historically practiced in Chinese alchemy, C ...
(who is also Isabella's father), with which he has a longtime feud, then enters. The two become embroiled in an insult duel that sees Anbury victorious. The Alchemist returns home, and a confrontation with his daughter, who berates him for his pointless feud with the undertaker, leads to Isabella's departure. Meanwhile, the
Alchemist Alchemy (from Arabic: ''al-kīmiyā''; from Ancient Greek: χυμεία, ''khumeía'') is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscience, protoscientific tradition that was historically practiced in Chinese alchemy, C ...
plots to ruin the undertakers forever by
distilling Distillation, or classical distillation, is the process of separating the components or substances from a liquid mixture by using selective boiling and condensation, usually inside an apparatus known as a still. Dry distillation is the heat ...
the fabled
elixir of life The elixir of life, also known as elixir of immortality, is a potion that supposedly grants the drinker eternal life and/or eternal youth. This elixir was also said to cure all diseases. Alchemists in various ages and cultures sought the means ...
, creating immortality for everyone (''The Elixir of Life''). Finding Isabella in the street, Clive, Milly, and Jerry are surrounded by the
beggars Begging (also panhandling) is the practice of imploring others to grant a favor, often a gift of money, with little or no expectation of reciprocation. A person doing such is called a beggar or panhandler. Beggars may operate in public place ...
of London, who are ultimately swayed by Clive's gullibility (''Spend a Penny''). Isabella is impressed by Clive's normality, in contrast to her father's strangeness, and the two fall in love (''Never Felt Like This Before''). Clive completes his training and becomes a fully fledged undertaker (''Coffin of Your Past''), but the Undertaker's business is already suffering, and the pressure soon takes its toll on Clive's relationship with Isabella (as does his jealousy over her ex - the celebrity rat-catcher the
Pied Piper The Pied Piper of Hamelin (german: der Rattenfänger von Hameln, also known as the Pan Piper or the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin) is the title character of a legend from the town of Hamelin (Hameln), Lower Saxony, Germany. The legend dates back to ...
). Alone and distraught, Clive is approached by a sinister duo with an offer he can't refuse - a pair of rats dressed in mafioso suits (''The Rat King''). Pushed into the river tied to a rock, he is led deep into the London sewers to meet the mysterious Rat King, who claims to be a visionary seeking racial harmony between man and rat (''Man and Rat''). He begs Clive to uncover the bones of a great
martyr A martyr (, ''mártys'', "witness", or , ''marturia'', stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an externa ...
to rat-kind - Elman Squatcherd. In return, the Rat King promises that the business will prosper. Clive is swayed and returns to Jerry, who sadly reveals that after an argument with Anbury, he sent him to Sweden. With little time left until they must pay their rent, Clive and Jerry dig up the body and Clive delivers the exhumed remains to the sewer. Unbeknownst to Clive, however, Elman Squatcherd was the last known victim of the
Black Death The Black Death (also known as the Pestilence, the Great Mortality or the Plague) was a bubonic plague pandemic occurring in Western Eurasia and North Africa from 1346 to 1353. It is the most fatal pandemic recorded in human history, causi ...
and the Rat King actually intends to use the remains to infect London with the deadly
bubonic plague Bubonic plague is one of three types of plague caused by the plague bacterium (''Yersinia pestis''). One to seven days after exposure to the bacteria, flu-like symptoms develop. These symptoms include fever, headaches, and vomiting, as well a ...
. His henchmen swap the deadly serum with the
Elixir of life The elixir of life, also known as elixir of immortality, is a potion that supposedly grants the drinker eternal life and/or eternal youth. This elixir was also said to cure all diseases. Alchemists in various ages and cultures sought the means ...
to ensure that salvation is impossible. The Alchemist unknowingly pours the serum into the London well. Weeks later, citizens of London are dying at every turn, and the undertaking business is thriving. (''It's Bubonic''!) 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 Londoners all debate whom to blame until the
Alchemist Alchemy (from Arabic: ''al-kīmiyā''; from Ancient Greek: χυμεία, ''khumeía'') is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscience, protoscientific tradition that was historically practiced in Chinese alchemy, C ...
arrives. Upon revealing he poured the “elixir of life” in the well, the townspeople realize that's what's causing the plague and blame him for starting it (''Someone to Blame''). While counting their money, Clive and Jerry are visited by Milly, who confronts Clive about his wealth and his falling out with Isabella. Then
Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
arrives and demands to talk to Clive face to face. Death, who is revealed to be a woman, informs Clive that the recent outbreak has overworked her, and that he must end the
plague Plague or The Plague may refer to: Agriculture, fauna, and medicine *Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' * An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural) * A pandemic caused by such a disease * A swarm of pes ...
or face the consequences. After Death leaves, Isabella and her father arrive to hide from the mob. Isabella, who isn't feeling well, goes to lie down. Clive soon realises that the rats must be behind everything. The Alchemist, upon hearing this, reveals that the whole thing is his fault; long ago, his experimentation on the rats had caused them to evolve and prosper, and when they became too demanding, he flushed them into the sewer. He then tells Clive there is only one who can help stop the rats: Isabella's ex-boyfriend, the
Pied Piper The Pied Piper of Hamelin (german: der Rattenfänger von Hameln, also known as the Pan Piper or the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin) is the title character of a legend from the town of Hamelin (Hameln), Lower Saxony, Germany. The legend dates back to ...
. Clive makes his way to the pub, where he finds the Pied Piper. Upon informing him that the rats are responsible for the plague, the Piper resolves to take the action to stop them. (''Pay the Piper'') However, the Rat King has already anticipated the move and kills the Piper with a booby-trapped sewer explosion. The Rat King then ambushes Clive, Jerry and Milly, tying them up and informing them that the age of rat has begun, and that rats will take the humans place in London once they are gone. All seems lost but, thanks to the timely assistance of the
beggars Begging (also panhandling) is the practice of imploring others to grant a favor, often a gift of money, with little or no expectation of reciprocation. A person doing such is called a beggar or panhandler. Beggars may operate in public place ...
, the heroes escape. Clive confronts the Rat King on
London Bridge Several bridges named London Bridge have spanned the River Thames between the City of London and Southwark, in central London. The current crossing, which opened to traffic in 1973, is a box girder bridge built from concrete and steel. It r ...
, and the Rat King, after revealing Isabella has caught the
plague Plague or The Plague may refer to: Agriculture, fauna, and medicine *Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' * An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural) * A pandemic caused by such a disease * A swarm of pes ...
, throws the stolen
Elixir of life The elixir of life, also known as elixir of immortality, is a potion that supposedly grants the drinker eternal life and/or eternal youth. This elixir was also said to cure all diseases. Alchemists in various ages and cultures sought the means ...
into the Thames. Just as he has Clive cornered, the
Undertaker A funeral director, also known as an undertaker (British English) or mortician (American English), is a professional involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks often entail the embalming and burial or cremation of the dead, as w ...
(who has returned from exile as a new
Pied Piper The Pied Piper of Hamelin (german: der Rattenfänger von Hameln, also known as the Pan Piper or the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin) is the title character of a legend from the town of Hamelin (Hameln), Lower Saxony, Germany. The legend dates back to ...
), arrives and saves him. Clive returns to Isabella, and there are but a few precious moments before she passes away in his arms (''You're Here'').
Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
appears to collect her prize but, instead, informs Clive that the
Elixir ELIXIR (the European life-sciences Infrastructure for biological Information) is an initiative that will allow life science laboratories across Europe to share and store their research data as part of an organised network. Its goal is to bring t ...
has spread throughout the water system and that the
plague Plague or The Plague may refer to: Agriculture, fauna, and medicine *Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' * An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural) * A pandemic caused by such a disease * A swarm of pes ...
has, against all odds, been cured. As a reward for his endeavour, she agrees to grant Isabella a reprieve. All
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
celebrates the end of the disaster (''So the Plague Was Cured''). Clive and Isabella are re-united, the
Alchemist Alchemy (from Arabic: ''al-kīmiyā''; from Ancient Greek: χυμεία, ''khumeía'') is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscience, protoscientific tradition that was historically practiced in Chinese alchemy, C ...
and the
Undertaker A funeral director, also known as an undertaker (British English) or mortician (American English), is a professional involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks often entail the embalming and burial or cremation of the dead, as w ...
put aside their differences (it transpires they are actually brothers and have been engaged in a lifelong brotherly feud), and even
Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
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 London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
-wide calamity by starting a small fire in a certain
Pudding Lane Pudding Lane is a small street in London, widely known as the location of Thomas Farriner's bakery, where the Great Fire of London started in 1666. It runs between Eastcheap and Thames Street in the historic City of London, and intersects Monum ...
, the subsequent year's calamity of 1666 known as the
Great Fire of London The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through central London from Sunday 2 September to Thursday 6 September 1666, gutting the medieval City of London inside the old Roman city wall, while also extending past the ...
.


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 * Just Two Days * The Rat King * Man and Rat * It's Bubonic * Someone To Blame * Pay The Piper * You're Here / So The Plague Was Cured


Response


Critical reception

''Plague!'' was generally well received with the British Theatre Guide 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 ''The Stage'' is a British weekly newspaper and website covering the entertainment industry and particularly theatre. It was founded in 1880. It contains news, reviews, opinion, features, and recruitment advertising, mainly directed at those wh ...
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'' is an Edinburgh-based arts magazine that publishes during the Edinburgh Festival each year. It is a free, bi-weekly, A5 glossy publication distributed through key Festival venues. History ''Fest'' was established in 2002 as ...
commenting that ''Plague!'' was an "anarchic subversion of the musical tradition" imitated from the ''
Rocky Horror Show ''The Rocky Horror Show'' is a Musical theatre, musical with music, lyrics and book by Richard O'Brien. A humorous tribute to the Science fiction film, science fiction and Horror film, horror B movies of the 1930s through to the early 1960s, the ...
''. 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". ''Plague! The Musical'' was awarded 2008 sell-out show status. It was also named a Mervyn Stutter 'Pick Of The Fringe'.


U.S. Debut

''Plague! The Musical'' opened for the first time to U.S. audiences on 18 October 2013 for a four show run. Performed by the Marble Valley Players, Vermont's oldest, continuously operating community theater group, it debuted at the West Rutland Town Hall Theater in West Rutland, VT. During the second show, the cast and crew of the U.S. version of ''Plague!'' were treated to a special surprise visit by the writers, David Massingham and Matthew Townend. Under the direction of Martin Bones, two of the shows reached sell-out status. The musical direction was led by Gary Schmidt, and Erika Schmidt directed the choreography.''Plague! The Musical'' Vermont Public Radio (VPR)
VPR Article and Audio Feature On November 9 and 10, 2018, the show was performed at Ithaca College by “Theatrists Theatrics”— a student-run theater group. It was the first college production done of the show.


References

{{Reflist


External links


Official Plague! The Musical Website
Edinburgh Festival 2008 musicals Second plague pandemic in fiction