The title is drawn from the line, “ Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare…” opening the play with a sense of desperation, a plea to be spared, and just like that you are aware that combined lives are at stake. The play is set in Westminster, London in 1665 during an outbreak of the plague, causing certain families to be quarantined in their homes. The Snelgraves in particular have been locked up in their home and are close to release when two people break in and are then punished by another 28 days in quarantine. During their imprisonment they slowly get to know their cellmates who caused the extended sentence. While in conversation with Bunce, Mr. Snelgrave repeats three words, seemingly insignificant until they are repeated in slight variation by Morse less than ten pages
The title is drawn from the line, “ Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare…” opening the play with a sense of desperation, a plea to be spared, and just like that you are aware that combined lives are at stake. The play is set in Westminster, London in 1665 during an outbreak of the plague, causing certain families to be quarantined in their homes. The Snelgraves in particular have been locked up in their home and are close to release when two people break in and are then punished by another 28 days in quarantine. During their imprisonment they slowly get to know their cellmates who caused the extended sentence. While in conversation with Bunce, Mr. Snelgrave repeats three words, seemingly insignificant until they are repeated in slight variation by Morse less than ten pages