Bliss is one of the big shows this year at Edinburgh Fringe, playing at The Pleasance Grand and seemingly selling out most days I was intrigued to learn what the hype is about. Bliss is a modern day fairy tale with book, music and lyrics by Emma Lively and Tyler Beattie. We meet four princesses that have been locked in a tower to keep them safe by their father but as they escape one night a fairy godfather shows them a magic lagoon where they can go to become the perfect princess but in return lose their sense of self and individuality. Will they dip or stay true to themselves and what happens when the sisters want different things?
This show works beautifully for a family audience with the message being a brilliant one for young children to listen to and packaged in a way that will keep them enthralled. The show is well paced with the 80 minutes running time flying by with enough time being given to establish the sister’s individual characters and their own journeys. For younger audiences the simplicity is likely to be part of the appeal although for adults the book can occasionally feel saccharine and its story developments are rarely surprising. As a result, whilst I enjoyed the characters and their journeys I wasn’t always as emotionally invested in their outcomes as I might have been.
The music has a contemporary pop feel and the show opens with huge bang with ‘Inside These Castle Walls’ which sets the show’s tone within its first few seconds and quickly grabs the audience’s attention as well as packing storytelling into it. This high energy feel continues throughout the show with Prince Devin’s song ‘Through the Night,’ but there are more tender moments in the music of Bliss including Piper’s reflective ‘Save A Dance’ and a rousing finale, ‘Awake At Midnight.’With its accessible pop sound and instantly memorable choruses I can easily see this becoming a show with a devoted young fan base.
What Bliss perhaps lacks in dramatic surprise it more than makes up for in its energy and spectacle. A huge strength of the show is its visual appeal and this is a production that would look entirely at home in the West End. The choreography by Josh Prince is energetic but also character specific, from the jesters to the perfect princesses, whilst the integrations of movement, lighting and music creates some genuinely spectacular moments. The use of lighting and choreography during ‘Break Through’ not only is a spectacle but also depicts cleverly the travelling that takes place during this number. The set itself is relatively simple, relying heavily on the lighting design by Jay Morjaria. Vines cover the back of the stage and wings changing colour and create different patterns throughout the show. It is an ingenious way of shifting the mood and location without relying on cumbersome set changes.
The cast are universally strong. This ensemble work incredibly hard, playing everything from jesters to princesses and everything in between, and their attack matches the energetic feel of the show. The 4 princesses locked in the tower are played by Akshara Gunda as Piper, Alexandra Emmerson-Kirby as Carmella, Miriam Nyarko as Faye and Matilda Shapland as Holly and they each have their own unique character and sound. Desite having clearly defined archetypes each of the four feel sufficiently distinct that it is easy to understand what each sister wants from her journey. They all have incredible voices and with the combination of their vocals and the show’s high energy music, a cast recording is very much needed. Jordan Calloway plays Prince Devin and he has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand with his comedic and brilliantly charming portrayal of the man that all the perfect princesses are after.
Above all Bliss is enormous fun. There is a real sense of occasion to the production, from its big musical numbers and energetic choreography to the constantly changing visual world created by the lighting. It knows exactly what its target audience wants and delivers it with confidence, never allowing the pace to drop. Even when the story follows a path that is easy to predict, the sheer energy of the production makes it difficult not to be swept up in it.
Bliss may not offer the most surprising story, but it is a hugely accomplished piece of family theatre that delivers what it promises. With infectious music, impressive visuals and talented cast, it is easy to understand why this is proving to be such a popular fringe ticket and I can see it inspiring plenty of young fans to falls in love with musical theatre.
Bliss is on at Pleasance Courtyard from 13:00-14:20. You can find out more about the show on their website.
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