Four Thieves Vinegar by Christine Foster
90 mins. In the sweltering summer of 1665, the Black Death sweeps through London.
Matthias, an alchemist, has bankrupted himself trying to find a cure and has been
thrown into prison for debt. There he is joined by Hannah, a garrulous widow, held
for raising a riot, and young Jennet, who is sentenced to hang for theft. All three of
them are busy plotting against each other when the...
90 mins. In the sweltering summer of 1665, the Black Death sweeps through London.
Matthias, an alchemist, has bankrupted himself trying to find a cure and has been
thrown into prison for debt. There he is joined by Hannah, a garrulous widow, held
for raising a riot, and young Jennet, who is sentenced to hang for theft. All three of
them are busy plotting against each other when the pestilence arrives Newgate.
While the other inmates - believing they are doomed - indulge in debauchery and
drunkenness, Matthias begs his reluctant cellmates to help him make his sure-fire
remedy. Unfortunately the missing ingredient is gold - something they have no hope
of obtaining without resorting to the only currencies they do have: sex, wit and lies.
When the last turnkey dies, they are ironically left to do exactly what they have been
dreaming of - walk free again. But with a thousand a day dying on the streets above,
perhaps they would do better to bar the door, stay put, and survive – if they can
survive each other. PREMIERED IN LONDON TO FOUR STAR REVIEWS.