Plague! The Musical
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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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 in 1665-1666.
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.
The undertaker's 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.
