Edward Scissorhands at The Bristol Hippodrome

Posted on: 2024-03-07

Our rating:

It didn't disappoint, it was simply fantastic!

This production of “Edward Scissorhands” was expertly devised and directed by the British choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne OBE. It is a contemporary dance adaptation of Tim Burton's 1990 American romance fantasy film, the story is enacted entirely through music and dance.

 

The original, and distinguished screenwriter, American novelist, Caroline Thompson, and Oscar-nominated, composer, Danny Elfman, both helped to develop this dance version of the story, with new music and arrangements by the Olivier award-winning, composer and musical director, Terry Davies.

 

This 'Beauty and the Beast' fairytale starts and ends with an elderly Kim Boggs (Kerry Biggin) retelling her story of the doomed love affair. Edward (Liam Mower) is discovered, and taken in, by kind-hearted, suburban housewife, Peg Boggs (Kerry Biggin), after the demise of his creator. Edward falls in love with Peg's teenage daughter Kim (Ashley Shaw).

All is well for a time, Edward's blades are put to use creating fantastical hairstyles, topiaries, and magnificent ice sculptures. Edward is gentle, kind, and artistic. He has a child-like innocence. These qualities cause him to be subjected to harassment and exploitation.  

 

Edward is pursued by the flame-haired temptress Joyce Monroe (Nicole Kabera). Edward doesn't reciprocate her advances. He is naive and innocent. Spurned desperate housewife Joyce spreads gossip that Edward came on to her.

 

Things take a turn for the worse when Edward is blamed for a crime he hasn't committed. He is betrayed by nearly all the neighbourhood due to misunderstandings and slander perpetrated by Joyce Monroe and Jim Upton (Benjamin Barlow Bazeley), Kim's jock boyfriend. 

Jim is a ‘’jerk’ jock, a bully, and a lot. Jim chases after Edward. Jim instigates a fight, brutally attacking Edward. Edward doesn't retaliate until Jim hits and pushes Kim. Edward kills Jim, and Kim tells the townspeople that Edward died as well.

 

Edward doesn't look like everyone else. He is an animated, constructed, humanoid. His hands are blades and his freakish appearance makes him an outcast and he is ostracized by the community.

 

This is a story of how people wrongly treat those who are ‘’different’ from the perceived ‘’norm’, it's about people who feel like they don't belong. It is based on Tim Burton's own feelings when growing up, of not fitting in, not belonging, and feeling isolated. His feelings of not being able to touch or communicate are symbolised by Edward's physical inability to touch others without harming them. The idea came from one of Burton's childhood drawings of a thin unhappy man with long sharp blades for fingers 

This show was a visual treat- colourful and with so much to look at and see, I could barely keep up! The 1950’s dresses and costumes were stunning.  I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy this performance as much as I did the film, as it is one of our all-time favourites. However, we were not disappointed. The story was beautifully portrayed entirely through the mediums of music, movement and dance. The music was haunting and stirring, seamlessly mixing the original with the new. 

 

This production was witty, moving, and energetic, a celebration of what makes us all unique, a reminder that we shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, we shouldn't judge by appearance.

 

We were moved to tears several times throughout. It didn't disappoint, it was simply fantastic!

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Article by:

Colette Hand

Colette Hand, BA graduate of Bath Spa University and retired primary school teacher. Now an avid crafter for charity and volunteer shop assistant for SENSE charity. Enjoys time spent with twin grandchildren.