2008 Woodie Awards
Scissorhands snips onto stage
Kelly Austin '08
Issue date: 1/31/07 Section: Entertainment
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Let me just begin by saying, this was a fantastic idea.
The classic film, Edward Scissorhands, has been adapted into a magical stage production. The story of our socially awkward yet gentle friend can now be seen strictly through music and dance.
Matthew Bourne and his New Adventures Company have transformed the original gothic fairy tale by Tim Burton into a musical phenomenon. As an added bonus for enthusiasts of this cult film, Danny Elfman's original score is still used.
The roughly two hour stage adaptation follows closely from the film, with some minor changes, and of course, no words. However, because Edward Scissorhands is truly an emotional and physical being, words are unnecessary. If anyone is unfamiliar with the wonderful story, it begins with an eccentric inventor who creates himself a son, but unfortunately dies before he is completed. Edward is therefore left with scissors for hands, making even mundane tasks such as brushing his teeth impossible. The musical begins differently from the movie, where it is discovered that the inventor did have a son who unfortunately was killed by a lightning bolt, which was attracted to the scissors in his hands. For those of you who have wondered for many years (as I have) why the inventor put scissors on Edward's hands in the first place, this just may be the needed explanation.
Once the inventor dies, Edward stumbles on a cheery suburban town, and a very colorful family, the Boggs, take him in. This is slightly different from the movie, where Peg Boggs actually stumbles on Edward in his home. From here on, Edward struggles to fit in with the residents of the town, and momentarily wins their hearts with his ability to cut strange lawn decorations and hairstyles. Edward even falls in love with the Boggs' daughter, Kim, offering some very touching moments that just may cause even the biggest skeptic to reach for a tissue. It is quite a fairy tale come true, in which we learn that fitting in with a pasty white complexion, dangerous hands, and clumsy movements can be extremely difficult.
The classic film, Edward Scissorhands, has been adapted into a magical stage production. The story of our socially awkward yet gentle friend can now be seen strictly through music and dance.
Matthew Bourne and his New Adventures Company have transformed the original gothic fairy tale by Tim Burton into a musical phenomenon. As an added bonus for enthusiasts of this cult film, Danny Elfman's original score is still used.
The roughly two hour stage adaptation follows closely from the film, with some minor changes, and of course, no words. However, because Edward Scissorhands is truly an emotional and physical being, words are unnecessary. If anyone is unfamiliar with the wonderful story, it begins with an eccentric inventor who creates himself a son, but unfortunately dies before he is completed. Edward is therefore left with scissors for hands, making even mundane tasks such as brushing his teeth impossible. The musical begins differently from the movie, where it is discovered that the inventor did have a son who unfortunately was killed by a lightning bolt, which was attracted to the scissors in his hands. For those of you who have wondered for many years (as I have) why the inventor put scissors on Edward's hands in the first place, this just may be the needed explanation.
Once the inventor dies, Edward stumbles on a cheery suburban town, and a very colorful family, the Boggs, take him in. This is slightly different from the movie, where Peg Boggs actually stumbles on Edward in his home. From here on, Edward struggles to fit in with the residents of the town, and momentarily wins their hearts with his ability to cut strange lawn decorations and hairstyles. Edward even falls in love with the Boggs' daughter, Kim, offering some very touching moments that just may cause even the biggest skeptic to reach for a tissue. It is quite a fairy tale come true, in which we learn that fitting in with a pasty white complexion, dangerous hands, and clumsy movements can be extremely difficult.
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