Search

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

Plague! The Musical

 
Ian Billings Review by Ian Billings 2 Published: 9 Aug 2008 Show Dates: 31 Dec 1969-31 Dec 1969

This is fast-moving musical treatment of the bubonic plague of London performed by a bouyant cast of young actor/singers, but the strong and vibrant performances all round are let down by a script which is stylistically inconsistant and derivative. Musicals are difficult. Comedy musicals are even harder. Musical comedies about the plague must be the hardest of all to write.

The direction is mild but the choreography inventive. The enthusiastic playing, however, cannot disguise an idea which is not strong enough to sustain 1 hour and 45 mins - there is kernal of a good idea here, but this is still a work in progress.

Python, Pratchett, Blackadder and even Groucho, all have their comedy pockets picked to feed the actors lines, leaving us with a feeling this could be much-better if it believed in itself. Murmurs of approval and a smattering of applause greeted the bright performances, but is it satire, parody or pastiche? Maybe I missed something. Go and decide for yourself.

Related to this article:

Performances

The Blurb:

When you accidently unleash the Great Plague, getting dumped is the least of your worries. And with armies of beggars, druids and rats to contend with, Clive Hucklefish is about to have a very bad day. www.plaguethemusical.com