[title of show]

For a show built almost entirely on trope-busting, [title of show] begins with a familiar premise: the show-within-a-show. As we watch four fast-talking, flamboyantly bitchy New Yorkers struggling to write an original musical of their very own, we find in Patch of Blue Theatre’s production of Jeff Bowen’s self-referential musical an affectionate send-up of its own genre, burdened by an unfortunate identity crisis.

There is much to like about [title of show]: the cast—camp, writer’s-blocked Off-Broadway wannabes Jeff and Hunter; sassy starlets-in-waiting Heidi and Susan; and chronically underappreciated pianist Larry—are likeable in their prancing, self-absorbed sort of way. The vocal performances are consistently strong—female leads Jamie Lee Pike and West End veteran Carley Stenson are impressively versatile—and Patch of Blue’s adaptation makes skillful use of a barely-dressed set.

The problem is that [title of show] frequently finds itself struggling against the weight of its own meta. For the most part, it’s hilariously self-aware and thoroughly enjoyable; a sly-winking pastiche of musical theatre and the aspirational denizens thereof. But more than once it wanders off course, and becomes for a few moments exactly the kind of low-Rent rags-to-riches tale it set out to satirise.

The final scenes, as our would-be Kander and Ebb’s Broadway dreams seem poised to come true, are plodding drama which, while narratively necessary, feel completely out of place. The muted musical finale makes for a graceful exit, but the incongruity is an unworthy end to a confident, playful production.