EntertainmentTheatre

Edward Scissorhands at the Milton Keynes Theatre Review

EdwardScissorhands1Edward Scissorhands
Milton Keynes Theatre

17-21 February 2015

www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Reviewed by Becky Speller

I was thrilled to be asked to review Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands at the Milton Keynes Theatre and took along my best friend who has been really keen to see it.

The theatre is very easy to get to as it is right in the centre of Milton Keynes, also the parking is free after 6pm and there are plenty of spaces nearby. There is a brilliant choice of restaurants next to the theatre with something for everyone’s taste. We enjoyed a glass of wine in the piano bar. It has a real classy feel to it and would make your trip extra special to stop for a drink there.

OK- after hearing they recreated the classic film Edward Scissorhands as a ballet I really had no idea what to expect or how they would portray the story. We had perfect seats with a brilliant view of the stage.

The beginning of the performance is quite dark and very atmospheric. The story shows the inventor of Edward Scissorhands making his ‘creation’, however unfortunately he is killed before he can finish Edward and this is how he ends up with scissors for hands. Edward comes to life and begins to move round the stage. I have to say Dominic North who plays him is very convincing and makes the character very believable. His facial expressions are brilliant, such a talented dancer and actor.

Edward finds his way to an American suburban street and the stage explodes with colour and lots of colourful new characters. The dancing is fantastic and despite no words the story is easy to follow from here on in. He is taken under the wing of one of the mother’s on the street and soon becomes a hit with the locals when he makes some interesting bush sculptures with his scissors.

He then moves on to the Edward barber shop and starts giving the local residents some hair raising new styles. It is at this point that he first meets Kim (the daughter of the lady that rescues him) and falls in love with her. There is an exceptionally clever part of the show (a dream sequence) which involves dancers dressed as human bushes, and Edward is blessed with normal hands. Kim also falls in love with him.

Without giving too much of the storyline away the end of the performance is very moving and reduced myself and my friend to tears. At the very end snow falls on the stage and the audience to depict Edward’s ice sculptures. It was magical!!!

I would say that this is more of a contemporary dance performance than a ballet, and fans of traditional ballet may be disappointed. We were not and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this show.

This magical performance takes you through all emotions from sadness to humour and really has something for everyone. I would quite happily go and see it again.

Rating: 5/5 thumbs_up

Tickets cost from £16.90 to £46.40 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).

Edward Scissorhands is at the Milton Keynes Theatre until 21 February 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 8717652.

Milton Keynes Theatre, 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK9 3NZ

5Star

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