There is plenty to enjoy in Bliss, a new show that has all the ingredients for a sharp and energetic pop-rock musical that turns the traditional fairy tale on its head. Following four princess sisters as they escape their tower and encounter the outside world, the show draws thematic and musical comparisons with shows such as Six, Shrek, and Juliet & Romeo.

When it comes to performance and the music, Bliss is difficult to fault. The 17-strong cast is packed with West End talent, delivering quality vocals with impressive consistency while throwing themselves into the show’s deliberately heightened world. The ensemble has plenty of energy packed into tight choreography, and the performers clearly know how to command a stage. The live band is another particular highlight. The pop-rock score has considerably more punch performed live, with the musicians giving the show a driving energy that carries it through some of its weaker moments. When Bliss hits its stride, it is an undeniably entertaining piece of musical theatre, with enough big vocals and comic moments to keep the audience engaged.

Visually, the production embraces fun lighting designs while the costumes help establish the show’s deliberately exaggerated world. There is a lot happening in this compact 80-minute production, and the creative team have clearly put considerable thought into making Bliss feel bigger than its Fringe setting.

Unfortunately, the strength of the performers isn’t always matched by the writing. The central ideas are promising, particularly the show’s interest in challenging the conventions of fairy tales but the script simply does too much telling and not enough showing which makes some of the emotional beats feel less earned than they could be. As a result, some potentially interesting character development feels rushed, while the larger themes can come across as somewhat heavy-handed. New concepts of world building are introduced at speed, which doesn’t allow for scenes to breathe or the audience to keep up with what is happening with the plot, resulting in some clunky transitions.

There is clearly a great deal of talent onstage and the foundations of an exciting musical. With more time spent developing the characters and the plot overall, Bliss could become a much more satisfying show.

Bliss is at Grand at Pleasance Courtyard until Mon 31 Aug