Bliss
Rating: ★★★★
Venue: Grand at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh

From the Olivier Award-winning producers of Cabaret and Benjamin Button, this 'dazzling, genuine musical treat' ***** (Stage) – one of The New York Times' picks of the Fringe – is the biggest new musical of the Edinburgh Fringe, turning the classic fairytale inside out. Four sisters escape their tower and collide with the outside world. Where fairy godfathers rule and happy endings come at a cost, this 'hilarious, 80 minutes of tremendous fun' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com) rewrites the concept of happily ever after.

Bliss is a fully-fledged musical, with high quality set, props, costume, lighting, choreography and direction. This makes for an excellent show, if one that was clearly not created as a fringe piece. Incredible as the performances were, it felt slightly strange and overly commercial among the rest of the programme. 

I genuinely couldn't credit just one or a few of the creative team as all departments were as brilliant as each other, and easily up to West End standard. It seems evident to me that this show is vying for a transfer or tour very soon! 

The story follows four young princesses who have, up until now, been locked in a tower by their well-meaning father after the death of their mum. It sounds like a cliché start, but as the plot unfolds we find that not everything is as it seems on surface level. While a great watch, with strong plot and plenty of sparkles, this show is strongly centred around a specific audience demographic and so may not be appealing to a whole family of varying ages and interests.

I would love to come back and see the full story in two acts as many of the subjects were only touched on briefly, and it's evident that there is more to be said.

You can buy tickets to Bliss here.

Review by Katie