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Edward Scissorhands

Cover to original cast recording

A dance piece in 2 acts and a Prologue: Devised and choreographed by Matthew Bourne. Music by Terry Davies. Original motion picture score by Danny Elfman

Sadler's Wells, London - 30 November, 2005 - 5 February, 2006

Synopsis

Matthew Bourne's delightful adaptation of the classic Tim Burton motion picture is a treat for all the family. Featuring the beautiful and unmistakable theme music by Danny Elfman, this touching and witty gothic fairytale tells the story of a boy created by a lonely inventor who dies leaving him alone and unfinished. Left with only scissors for hands, Edward struggles to find his place in a strange new suburban world where the well meaning community struggle to see past his strange appearance to the innocence and gentleness within.

Story

An elderly woman tells a story to her granddaughter of a man with scissors for hands named Edward, the creation of an inventor. The inventor was inspired to make an artificial man due to the anthropomorphic appearance of his other inventions. He raised Edward as his son and tutored him in various subjects, but died while in the act of offering a pair of hands to Edward. Many years later, local Avon saleswoman Peg Boggs, after failing to make profits in her suburban neighborhood, visits a Gothic mansion on a hill. There, she finds Edward, and convinces him to have her take him in. Edward befriends Peg's young son, Kevin and, after an initial misstep, her teenage daughter Kim.

Peg's neighbors become curious and thrilled at Edward's masterful skills at hedge clipping and haircutting. However, two of the townspeople, a religious fanatic named Esmeralda and Kim's jock boyfriend Jim, dislike him immediately. Joyce, a "lonely housewife", suggests that Edward open a haircutting salon with her. While examining a proposed site, she attempts to seduce him, confusing Edward, who escapes the room in a state of panic. Edward attempts to bring up the subject of her actions while the family is having dinner, but no one reacts to the news.

Wanting money for a van, Jim takes advantage of Edward's ability to pick locks and breaks into his father's house. The burglar alarm sounds and all but Edward escape, despite Kim's angry insistence that they return for him. Edward is arrested, but released when a psychological examination reveals that his isolation allowed him to live without a traditional sense of ethics. The arresting officer, Allen, befriends the timid Edward, sensing his intrinsic goodness. The neighbors start to question their opinions about Edward's personality. Meanwhile, infuriated by Edward's rejection, Joyce gets revenge on Edward by claiming that he tried to rape her. Many of the neighbors begin to gossip and slowly turn against Edward. During Christmas, Edward is therefore hated and feared by almost everyone around him except the Boggs family, thus making him an outcast.

While the family is setting up Christmas decorations, Edward carves an ice sculpture from a block of ice. The ice shavings create the effect of falling snow, under which Kim dances. Jim catches Kim's attention, whereupon Edward accidentally cuts Kim's hand. Jim assumes that Edward deliberately harmed her, and uses this as a pretext to attack Edward in a jealous rage. The situation worsens when Kevin is almost run over by Jim's drunken friend. Edward pushes Kevin out of the way, accidentally cutting his face in the process. The neighbors misunderstand the situation, thinking Edward attacked Kevin. Edward flees back to his hill-top mansion. The neighbors form an angry mob and pursue him. Officer Allen unsuccessfully attempts to turn back the mob by giving them the impression that Edward is dead. He fires his gun a few times and tries to tell them that it's all over. They continue to the mansion, presumably to kill Edward themselves and/or to verify Officer Allen's claims that Edward is dead.

Kim heads to the mansion before the mob can get there and reunites with Edward. Jim follows them and battles Edward, and is eventually killed by him. Kim professes her love for Edward and convinces the mob that Edward and Jim killed each other in the fight. All the neighbors return to their homes, while Joyce is seen guilty and ashamed for making up the rumor about Edward. The elderly woman from the beginning reappears, as she finishes telling her granddaughter the story. It is revealed that Edward is still alive and "creating snow" from his ice sculptures, which fall upon the valley below. The elderly woman reveals to her granddaughter that she is, in fact, Kim. She refuses to visit Edward because she wants Edward to remember her the way she was in her youth.

The Music

  1. Prologue*
  2. Creating a Boy
  3. Trick Or Treat
  4. The Suburban Ballet  *
  5. Meet the Boggs
  6. Edward Explores
  7. A Portrait of Kim  *
  8. Edward Meets the World
  9. Gossip
  10. The Evercreech Family
  11. The Boggs’ Barbeque
  12. Kim and Jim
  13. Mad Mambo
  14. Topiary Garden *
  15. Edwardo the Barber *
  16. Joyce Entertains
  17. Christmas In Hope Springs
  18. Ice Dance *
  19. New Best Friend/Christmas Ball
  20. Edward's Party Piece
  21. The Hope Springs' Swing
  22. Edward Accused
  23. Farewell Duet  *
  24. Epilogue *

*   includes musical themes from the motion picture Edward Scissorhands by Danny Elfman.