Review: Edward Scissorhands – Matthew Bourne – Edinburgh

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Ebullient dance innovator Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands is a fascinating production. It occupies a mash-up of genres, sliding betwixt modern dance and physical theatre to translate Tim Burton and Caroline Thompson’s famous screenplay into a stage show. The result is an extremely stylish extravaganza faithful to the original idea, though not enslaved by the film’s plot.

Terry Davies does a great job expanding upon Danny Elfman’s iconic score, though just as with Lex Brotherstone’s evocative design, the production’s aesthetics are pinned to the sights and sounds of 60’s/70’s middle America. Edward’s home is a gothic wonderland, whilst the town is a delightfully stylised world of picket fences, manicured drives, and cute front porches. Edward’s leatherbound, knife-tipped costuming is tip-top, whilst the townspeople are arrayed in sharp 60’s pastiche.

In all, it looks and sounds truly splendid, though the lack of ambiguity in time and place does take away some of the tale’s odd mystique.

Nevertheless, this Scooby-Do adjacent universe is a fine place to introduce a stitchwork boy with scissors for hands. Adding a little more viciousness to proceedings, Bourne and Thompson (who returns to co-adapt) have a group of overtly criminal teens actually induce the death of Edward’s dad. It’s tough to call it a Halloween prank gone wrong when they break in, assault and rob a homeowner and prompt a cardiac arrest.

Orphaned, Edward (Liam Mower) wanders into town and is promptly adopted by the kind-hearted Peg Boggs (Mami Tomotani), and introduced to her family including, apparently, the only decent child in town Kevin (Jamie Duncan-Campbell), and his beautiful older sister Kim (Holly Saw).

Of course, Kim’s boyfriend, and chief waste of space Jim (Ben Brown) is not a fan, and when Edward becomes a local celebrity, he also draws the ire of the local religious nuts, and the attention of neighbour cougar Joyce (Nicole Kabera). Tensions build, things go wrong, and the pitchforks come out.

Bourne’s choreography is strong, never letting the abstract interfere with the storytelling. Obviously, Edward is the make-of-break element, and Mower turns in an invested, character-rich performance. His bladed hands must have taken time to adapt to, but they are well incorporated into his movements. His interactions with other characters are laced with comedy and vulnerability, raising laughs and inviting the audience’s sympathy.

However, this New Adventures production is somewhat dominated by fabulous set pieces wherein the company let-loose. From the slick montage introduction to the townspeople to a funky barbecue, and a fateful Winter ball, it’s impressive stuff. On the other hand, these group fandangos rather overshadow the central story at times.

This is a pity because this Edward Scissorhands is most engaging and powerful when the stage is less full. Edward’s introduction to the Bogg’s family is sweet and silly, whilst his dreams of cheerleader Kim, augmented with a little projection wizardry from Duncan McLean, are a joy. The production’s best moment is likely Joyce’s attempted seduction of the strange new boy in town, a complex dance around household furnishings, laced with cheeky comedy and culminating in a washing-machine spin-cycle orgasm. Sassy, fatal, and lithe of body, Kabera is critical to the show’s success.

The central love story between Edward and Kim conversely, really only finds real depth in the closing scene. Perhaps relying on a little nostalgic subsidy from the audience, the show culminates in a romantic tragedy which the plotting doesn’t quite earn. Further, this Edward Scissorhands has a somewhat tame ending for a production that opts for a darker origin story.

Ultimately, I can’t argue with the audience’s spontaneous standing ovation when the show closed. It’s a spectacular production which ticks the box marked ‘great night at the theatre’ emphatically. I believe it could be better, but as a crowdpleaser, Edward Scissorhands hits the mark.

All images: Johan Persson

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Edward Scissorhands will tour until June 2024. For tickets, and more information, click here.

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