Losing The Plot is a new queer jukebox musical comedy, jam-packed with top hits from the 70s and 80s, Originally performed in Manchester and has now come to the Fringe this year.
Could have a solid foundation but seems incomplete
The story of main character, Eric, a struggling musical theatre writer who has lost his creativite spark. In an attempt to get back on track, Eric enters a competition to write the best new musical. If he's going to have any chance of winning he needs help, so he recruits an eclectic team of fellow writers and more drama arrives than ideas. There's many an argument, as creative chaos ensues.
Eric is an eccentric character with a Hefner style robe/blazer. That's about all I can say about him because as the show continued, Eric became less and less noticeable. He was overshadowed by other characters such as Scarlet, who is a complete metal head; Camilla who is a mysterious posh totty, or the alien obsessed girl Stella. Then there's Evelyn and Angela – Evelyn is a standard theatre kid; she's forever energetic and loves the limelight and she introduces Angela to the group. Angela is the complete opposite of Evelyn, she's quiet and loves science.
The show also has antagonist Beck, who seems to mysteriously already know Angela... Beck also writes her own musical and wants to win on her own.
Reminiscent of The Breakfast Club, a group of very different young people, in one space for a long time, who fall out at times but ultimately have one united aim.
I think Losing The Plot could have a solid foundation but seems incomplete. The main character Eric is a bit of an unknown and doesn't contribute that much to the drama. Beck the antagonist causes problems for Evelyn and Angela but this was barely noticeable as it seemed all so rushed. And the ending had no real conclusion.
A good concept for a jukebox musical, but poorly executed.