one4review | On 22, Aug 2025

This year marked a short lived return for the smash-hit sell-out musical comedy show from Kiell Smith-Bynoe V Ed MacArthur about duelling children’s entertainers duking it out to become the undisputed king of birthday parties for the under 10s.

Like all classic British comedy, the show revolves around a clash between the classes with Sylvester ‘Silly’ String (MacArthur) an upper-class classically trained toff who has sewn up the lucrative children’s party scene in London’s West End having to share his spotlight with MC SPITTA (Amith-Bynoe), the freestyle rapping working class social media sensation of the East End at the 6th birthday party of Anastasia, a very rich little girl. What follows is a mix of comedy, children’s songs and games, all while the two entertainers with their vastly differing styles try to either work together or undermine each other. That clash of styles – both in the two characters and their two preferred musical styles (String brought an accordion, SPITTA brought a loop station) is an instantly pleasing contrast and adds a lot to the inherent humour and dynamics of the show.

It’s something akin to a stroke of genius how much of the show is, basically, just a children’s show, complete with crowd pleasing singalongs and being asked to shout out animal noises and how entertaining and engaging that really is. And minus a few naughty jokes about sex and drugs and some of the more complicated lyrical twisting, the show could probably function as a very high quality kids show, but there’s something even more magical about the audience all being grown-ups and getting to enjoy it all to themselves.

A welcome return for a great show from two real heavy hitters, this was a delight to watch.

*****
Reviewed by Tom M
Studio Two at Assembly George Square Studios
21:40 to 22.40