[faust]

Has anyone else noticed that the Fringe seems to have seen more than its fair share of Plague-related musicals recently? I must say I think the idea in principle of a big broadway musical that deals with totally unmusical themes like death and disease is hilarious - but no production ever seems to get the formula right!

I saw Catchy! at the Brighton festival recently (though it was up in Edinburgh previously). To be honest I thought it was awful - just a bunch of horrendous jokes about having sex with corpses. And the music... don't get me started. It described itself as Carry On - but it had none of the charm of a Carry On film. Barbara Windsor's bra falling off is a far cry from some of the lewd in your-faceness that the audience had to stomach in Catchy. The Brighton crowd didn't know whether to laugh or cringe - and a load walked out in the interval.

Now at Edinburgh this year there are TWO, yes TWO plague-based musicals. One is called 'We all fall down' and looks like a comic version of Roses of Eyam - you know, isolated Plague village affair. Roses of Eyam is not a bad play, though it's not quite sure whether it wants to be a musical, a tragedy or a comedy (tragicomic somehow doesn't quite cover it) and thus it sort of falls between all stools. 'We all fall down' might be worth a look - though it seems to be aimed at the mild family audience so it might be a little bit educational rather than pure fun.

And now there is the succinctly named 'Plague! The Musical!', which I think is playing at C venues (where I saw Famished last year - great show!). Now maybe I'm biased because I saw Famished at the same venue and I have positive associations with the place, but I think this one might just have gotten it right! The story is pure fantasy, but what I LOVE is the idea that a down-on-his luck undertaker gets rich from starting the plague! (I read the full synopsis under the press section of the website - spoiler alert!) So it's a kind of rags to riches story - with plague-victims as the currency! And though I know not to judge a book by it's cover - the cover is VERY well put-together. Take a peek at this website!

www.plaguethemusical.com

So maybe we will finally get the definitive disease musical (virtually a sub-genre now) we deserve! I for one will definitely be seeing this show. Hazzah!

[Matthew Winn]

There was also Andrew Peggie and Stephen Clark's musical "Eyam" at the Bridewell ten years ago.

[bloated]

There was also Andrew Peggie and Stephen Clark's musical "Eyam" at the Bridewell ten years ago.

I wonder if that's what Faust means when he says "Roses Of Eyam" in the poll. I thought this was the play and Eyam was the musical??

I actually also had the misfortune of seeing Catchy! The "Great" Plague Musical in Edinburgh in 2006. (I can't believe they actually did it again?!) After Catchy, I'm not sure I could actually dare risk another plague related musical this year but the Plague! The Musical website does look pretty good. I also love the fact that We All Fall Down is apparently a children's show yet the first line of the copy reads "1665. The plague is raging and Death is everywhere." Brilliant!

[art87]

I wonder if that's what Faust means when he says "Roses Of Eyam" in the poll. I thought this was the play and Eyam was the musical??

I've done "The Roses of Eyam" and it is a straight play. Didn't know there was a musical version, but can only imagine it's pretty downbeat if the play is anything to go by...

[bloated]

I've done "The Roses of Eyam" and it is a straight play. Didn't know there was a musical version, but can only imagine it's pretty downbeat if the play is anything to go by...

http://www.nodanw.com/shows_e/eyam.htm - nope, doesn't sound like a bag of laughs!

[faust]

Ah - but aren't there a pair of grumpy old men in the plague village in Eyam, who refuse to die? I remember seeing a production...there was a character called Old Ulrich who in one scene appeared to be dead then scared the wits out of everyone by coming back to life. It was funny and funnier because it came in the midst of such darkness. But true - it isn't a strict comedy and certainly not a musical...

[faust]

Well, well. We are joined by one of the CO-WRITERS of said shows! What a privelege. I wonder if we can attract the attention of the writers of the other shows as well, and host the first ever Plague-off!

Now I feel like an interviewer, hehe.

So Guest_Big Dave. Here's your chance to shill like the best of them! What makes you think Plague! The Musical is the DEFINITIVE plague-musical ever? And keep it under a page...