Plucked straight from a brilliant imagination, this adaptation of Edward Scissorhands is like nothing you have seen before. From the opening note I was mesmerised by this atmospheric performance. Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures has taken an already loved story and turned it into a beautiful and whimsical ballet.
If your initial thoughts are,“ballet is not for me”, I urge you to take a moment and re-consider. It is potentially the perfect introduction to a new world.
This production is an absolute marvel; they dazzle you with elegant and elaborate choreography to draw you in and captivate you, accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful music of Danny Elfman and Terry Davies that washes over you and puts you under a spell, but then, quite unexpectedly from a ballet, you are treated to the added element of humour. The way they blended this into the show was inspired, it added a lighthearted feel to the performance that had us laughing out loud.
The story takes you on a journey of emotion, it is at times a sad reflection of society, highlighting how we can treat people who are different; from cruelty, to acceptance, through to rejection.
If you are unfamiliar with the tale: in a castle high on a hill lives Edward; a boy created by an eccentric inventor. When his creator dies he is left alone and unfinished with only scissors for hands until a kindly townswoman invites him to live with her suburban family. Can Edward find his place in the well-meaning community which struggles to see past his curious appearance to the innocence and gentleness within?
Photo by Johan Persson
Witnessing Liam Mower’s portrayal of Edward was something I will never forget. He was simply outstanding, not only is he a highly skilled dancer, effortlessly moving around the stage with grace and beauty, but he manages to weave in the quirky moves and character traits that Edward Scissorhands is well-known for. He embodied the role, capturing the innocence of the character, tugging at our collective heartstrings as he navigates through a fickle community.
Photo by Johan Persson
PICTURED ABOVE (Left) Ashley Shaw (Kim Boggs) | Photo by Johan Persson
The staging of this show felt electric, they give you the big elaborate group numbers to marvel at the synchronisation of the cast. Then have times when there are pockets of activity happening across the stage, with characters interacting amongst their own sub-groups, no matter where your eyes wander there is something to capture the attention. The way each member embraced a unique personality and carried it throughout the performance is something to be applauded. They never broke out of character whether they were centre stage or in the background. I feel like you could watch this show repeatedly and choose a different character to focus on and it would be like watching it with fresh eyes, finding something new and wonderful every time. The entire cast deserved a standing ovation in my opinion.
Photo by Johan Persson
I found seeing this show to be a truly special experience, there were moments that were so enchanting I felt close to tears, and I think I will be sharing my thoughts on this with anyone who will listen for a long time!
I encourage you to witness the spectacle for yourself, it will be playing at the Mayflower Theatre until the 16th March so there is still time to buy your tickets!
Words by Vicky Anscombe
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