Edward Scissorhands - Matthew Bourne's New Adventures
I find myself holding back the tears – that is how powerful the finale of this show is.
Norwich Theatre
Matthew Bourne's 'Edward Scissorhands' returns to Norwich Theatre Royal this week after first visiting here during its 2005-2006 tour, and then again during it's revival in 2014-2015. Nine years have passed, and Edward is back, once again flashing his stainless steel shears in front of Norwich audiences, and resurrecting the show's bittersweet themes of isolation and acceptance.
Those who have seen the original film will already know the plot, although Bourne moves the timeline back three decades to the 1950's, providing an opportunity for the costume and stage design teams to indulge themselves in period pastels and retro suburban sunshine, all perfectly contrasted against the gothic gloom of the castle from which Edward emerges. The families that Edward meets inhabit a world that appears to be bathing in the influences of West Side Story, Mad Men, Happy Days and Desperate Housewives, leaving Edward to reacclimatise, having emerged from Frankenstein's castle with lopping shears instead of digits.
Liam Mower, as Edward, is magnificent, piling on the pathos whilst his character attempts to gain favour and acceptance from the six families he encounters in Hope Springs. Mower’s body and facial expressions move majestically from marvel to melancholy, and from fear to love, as he cautiously navigates this brand new world of barbecues and picket fences. He falls in love with Kim Boggs (danced by Ashley Shaw), and their closing duet in Act 2 is one of the most moving things that you are likely to see on stage this year.
With up to twenty four dancers on stage at once, space is tight, but the New Adventurers are drilled in precision, leaving just enough room for each and every one of them to bring their characters to life with elegance and style. Flame-haired temptress Joyce Munro (Stephanie Billers) and her lawn-mowing husband George (Reece Causton) are just two of the neighbours who dance their way into our affections during the summer barbecue, just moments ahead of the enchanting Topiary Garden coming to life towards the end of Act One.
Act Two sees Edward the celebrity hairdresser revelling in his new-found cult status, before the Ice Dance and The Annual Christmas Ball start to point toward the realisation that, in reality, he remains a tragic outsider, in spite of the love shown towards him by Kim and the Boggs family. As the final shower of CGI snow is projected onto the cast, the audience are showered with one final surprise, and I find myself holding back the tears – that is how powerful the finale of this show is. If you missed Matthew Bourne's 'Edward Scissorhands' first or second time around, now may be your chance. Be quick, and you might get a ticket for later this week,
'Edward Scissorhands' is at Norwich Theatre Royal until Saturday April 20th.
