It’s the day of Evie’s big fifth birthday bash, and everyone’s waiting eagerly for the performer. The epitome of beauty, composure and elegance. Enter Princess Sparkles. She’s dishevelled, clumsy and more than a little chaotic. The perfect cocktail for a children’s entertainer, naturally.
The early stages of our story see Princess Sparkles really sold on Big Fairytale™. She’s met her ‘Prince Charming’, but this particular fella seems to be failing our hero, big time. She tells us their tale of woe, with the odd swig from a hip-flask or overshare along the way. Meanwhile, we make child’s play of party games and tricks that indulge our inner little ones. You can’t help but smile when you’re catching a bubble. This was a smart move from creator and performer, Lily Maryon, who cut her teeth with sketch sensations, The Biscuit Barrel. The devil’s in the detail, and the plot from this one definitely delivers. It’s a highly marketable concept, with plenty for Maryon to capitalise on.
In the early stages it would be striking to see the character displayed to fuller extremes of feeling. Princess Sparkles is incredibly relatable – a girl just like you and me – but a quicker escalation brings better results for on-stage antics. In the closing moments, Sparkles descends into freedom and fury. This bit is pure fire. What would it look like to bring this energy in a little earlier, and pump the accelerator as the show advances? Fun, we suspect. Deranged is a good colour on Princess Sparkles.
Maryon is suitably capable and has comedy credentials that will make this show a popular pick. The components are all here, there’s no notes on the content. It’s well-thought out and has plenty of moments with potential to delight. But there’s a sense that we need something a little more from this character to carry an hour-long show. It’s all in the delivery. With a bit more stage time and a touch of play, this birthday party is sure to be a big bash.
Reviewed on 30 May 2026.
The Reviews Hub Star Rating
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7
