EDWARD SCISSORHANDS Begins Performances At BAM Tonight

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 8:16am

Matthew Bourne's dance show Edward Scissorhands begins its highly anticipated New York run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House on March 14, running through March 31. BAM is holding its spring gala in tandem with the first performance.

Edward Scissorhands — based on the Tim Burton film starring Johnny Depp — arrives at BAM as part of a national tour that includes Los Angeles, San Francisco and Toronto, among other cities.

Bourne (Swan Lake, Play Without Words, Broadway's Mary Poppins) devised, directs and choreographs the piece. Terry Davies provides the music and arrangements, which are based on themes from the film's score by Danny Elfman. The show had its world premiere in London in November 2005.

The cast includes Scott Ambler, Sam Archer, Kerry Biggin, Madelaine Brennan, Ross Carpenter, Gareth Charlton, Andrew Corbett, Gavin Eden, Adam Galbraith, Sophia Dominique Hurdley, Steve Kirkham, Dena Lague, Rachel Lancaster, James Leece, Matthew Malthouse, Drew McOnie, Michela Meazza, Ebony Molina, Rachel Morrow, Etta Murfitt, Luke Murphy, Gemma Payne, Jake Samuels, Mikah Smillie, Mami Tomotani, Hannah Vassallo, Shaun Walters, Shelby Williams, Philip Willingham,Chloe Wilkinson and Richard Winsor.
A Topiary Grows in Brooklyn: Edward Scissorhands Cuts a Rug at BAM March 14

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 9:59am

This looks interesting. I could have sworn it had opened already; must have just been press coverage. I'll try to see it, definitely.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 10:02am

I went to their website to see about tickets, and there was a space to enter a discount code if you have one. Does anyone know of any codes for this show?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 11:43am

It's been on tdf.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 1:24pm

Heh, I'm going to see it tonight with my Seeing Performance class. I didn't realize it was the very first performance. Cool.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:21am

Report back with a review if you get a chance. I'm eager to hear about this production.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 1:27am

Alright, I'll do the best I can, but uhh...well, apparently I must have been the only person in my class to have never seen the movie.

While I did mostly enjoy it, there were certain parts, mainly the beginning and the ending (which I understand both are a little different than the movie) that just...I was totally lost, not understanding what was happening. It seems to be at least slightly aimed to audiences who are familiar with the story/movie, but since there seem to be few that aren't like myself, maybe that's not a bad thing.

I don't know why I thought this was a musical...it took me a little time to get used to and accept that this was actually dance and not a musical and aside from accepting that, and being confused at times, I did enjoy it. They were able to portray some very funny moments in the dance and movement, which seemed like an accomplishment to me (I hardly ever go to dance pieces).

And I *really* enjoyed the music, particularly the melodramatic ballads that were being played for Edward and that girl. Oh, and they had very surprisingly great effects--you totally buy the fact that it's raining, snowing (it even snows on the audience!), etc. The costuming and handling of the scissors is great as is a mix of actual sounds and added effects of the sounds of scissors. Certainly an enjoyable story, though some times I felt specific dances/songs went a bit long, but that also might be coming from someone who doesn't consider herself the hugest fan of pure dance. The second act moved very quick, and I found myself quite immersed in it, and didn't feel dances dragged there. Very intelligent choreography, mixing general and comedic movement and normal movement with dancing movement--it was effective, and I was quite impressed with the dancers.

So considering I'm not the biggest fan of pure dance, and I'm not familiar with the movie, yet I basically enjoyed it...if you're the opposite of me in either of the above, then you'll probably really enjoy it and I would definitely recommend it for you.

Hope that was somewhat cohesive.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 2:43am

Awesome review ... Sorry you didn't grasp EVERY little reference (for lack of a better term) to the original film. You should definitely try to catch it on STARZ! or HBO, even rent it or something. It's a really unique tale, and if you're a fan of Tim (Burton)'s, you'll DEFINITELY enjoy it!

Glad you nejoyed it!!!

Best,
- Mike

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 11:58am

Oh as soon as I said I didn't see it before the show started, everyone told me I must see it. Spring break is coming up, so I will definitely try to rent it or catch it on TV.

And forgive me, internet tone is difficult to interpret, but the way you said I didn't get EVERY reference, it sounds a bit like you're saying I'm putting too much emphasis on not seeing the film and not getting every single reference. It wasn't a matter of that at all, I mean there were times when characters came out and people laughed and I thought maybe they know the character from the movie, but my ultimate confusion was about major plot points, not every unimportant detail/reference.

If that's not what you meant, I apologize.

[sanda]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:19pm

I saw it last month in Kennedy Center. Honestly I did not enjoy it as much as I enjoy the movie.

One issue is the leading actress who played Kim. She lacks the innocence that Wyona Raider had in the movie. She looks very earthy, and this borthered me the whole time.

Edward on the other hand is very good.

I admit I have never been a Matthew Bourne fan. I did not see the appealing of his Swan Lake. And I always feel that his handling of story line is not good. There are too many trivial things where he put a lot of attetion in the story which makes it long and boring. And I find the choreography is neither hard nor amazing enough.

Overall, I feel it did not "wow" me.
Updated On: 3/15/07 at 12:19 PM

[Eos]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:26pm

I saw this a couple weeks ago in St. Louis, and while I wasn't sure what to expect, I really enjoyed it. Granted, I'm one of those people who's enthralled with almost everything I see, but I would recommend catching it if anyone has the chance. My only real disappointment was the fact that there was no orchestra.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 8:25am

The New York Times Review:
The Strange Career of a Boy With an Edge, or Several

[wexy]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 10:44am

I Saturday night on a horrible date, a day after the woman I was supposed to see it with blew me off.
That being said I did enjoy it but wasn't blown away.