SCISSORHANDZ

Southwark Playhouse Elephant

★★★

“The cast are superb across the board and there is an easy camaraderie that adds to the feelgood factor”

It is a bold statement to tag your show with the subtitle ‘A Musical Reinvented’. But there is nothing faint-hearted about Bradley Bredeweg’s reinterpretation of Tim Burton’s classic and gothic fairytale. Direct from Los Angeles, it bursts onto the London stage as though heading for Wembley Arena, but instead took a wrong turn and landed up in the three-hundred-seater, Southwark venue. Edward Scissorhands, the solemn and doleful outsider, has morphed into a rock legend of their own making – if only for a few fleeting seconds before retreating behind the bank of loudspeakers to await rediscovery.

The tale of an outsider trying to ‘fit in’ is an obvious celebration of being different; yet it is hard to maintain the impact of this message when the whole ensemble are complete weirdos anyway. A delightful bunch, nonetheless. Jordan Kai Burnett’s Scissorhands is slightly pushed into the shadows as a result, eclipsed by the eccentrics that surround them. Emma Williams, as Avon Lady Peg who adopts the waif-like Scissorhands, also adopts the role of protagonist with her wonderfully kooky, mad-as-a-hatter portrayal of the American housewife. Neighbours Joyce (Tricia Adele-Turner), Esmerelda (Annabelle Terry) and Helen (Ryan O’Connor) are as maverick and flamboyant as Abby Clarke’s primary-coloured costume design; while Dionne Gipson’s striking, ethereal ‘Inventor’ holds court from on high.

We are never completely emotionally engaged, but are always sucked into the sheer energy and sense of fun with which the performers are swamping the stage. And even if the song list gratuitously breaks the continuity of the story, the numbers are delivered with a powerful virtuosity. Like many juke-box musicals, the choice is hit and miss – some forming a neat and natural segue from the dialogue, whereas others are as isolated from the plot as Scissorhands is from reality. But, boy, there are some belters in there! Annabelle Terry’s ‘Heaven is a Place on Earth’ is a standout moment, along with Tricia Adele-Turner’s ‘Bleeding Love’ and Dionne Gipson’s ‘Mad World’. Emma Williams majestically reinvents ‘Creep’ (even though we really feel the song belongs to Scissorhands), and throughout the show, the wall of sound created by musical director Arlene McNaught’s five-piece band threaten to bring the roof down.

It is quite the spectacle, but the nuances of Burton’s original are lost in the mix, just as the quirkiness is occasionally obscured by an earnestness that is shoe-horned in. Rather than reinvented, the musical is relabelled – somewhat superficially like a ‘new-and-improved’, ‘special-offer’ packaging. Overtly establishing in a throwaway line of dialogue the correct pronoun for the lead character merely scratches the surface of the essential issue, while we either want it to dig deeper, or else take it as a given (as it should be).

There is a fair amount of disarray, but we cannot mistake the sheer joyfulness of it. The cast are superb across the board and there is an easy camaraderie that adds to the feelgood factor. The audience feel part of it all, especially when the fourth wall breaks down and boundaries are overstepped. Improvised ad-libs are let loose, often as sharp as the blades of Scissorhands’ make-shift fingers.

“Scissorhandz” is a fun-loving, camp, boisterous show bursting to crash through the walls of its chosen venue. But like Scissorhands themself, is a bit of a chimera – not quite fully formed. Yet there is something special in there, and it is an extraordinary piece of musical theatre. Its message implores us to seek that ‘special something’ within ourselves. Applied to itself, this show could well be onto a winning path to completion.

SCISSORHANDZ

Southwark Playhouse Elephant

Reviewed on 30th January 2025

by Jonathan Evans

Photography by Danny Kaan

Previously reviewed at Southwark Playhouse venues:

CANNED GOODS | ★★★ | January 2025

THE MASSIVE TRAGEDY OF MADAME BOVARY | ★★★ | December 2024

THE HAPPIEST MAN ON EARTH | ★★★★★ | November 2024

[TITLE OF SHOW] | ★★★ | November 2024

THE UNGODLY | ★★★ | October 2024

FOREVERLAND | ★★★★ | October 2024

JULIUS CAESAR | ★★★ | September 2024

DORIAN: THE MUSICAL | ★★½ | July 2024

THE BLEEDING TREE | ★★★★ | June 2024

FUN AT THE BEACH ROMP-BOMP-A-LOMP!! | ★★★ | May 2024

MAY 35th | ★★★½ | May 2024

SAPPHO | ★★ | May 2024

SCISSORHANDZ

★★★★

“This is a campy and silly way to spend an evening, but feels festive and fun”

This is a rollicking rollercoaster of a panto. Written by Will Brenton and directed by Clive Rowe (who also stars) it remains true to the classic traditions while feeling decidedly fresh and joyously fun. There are many old favourites, with the audience prepped to shout out ‘he’s behind you’ and ‘wakey-wakey’ at every opportunity, but it never feels tired or obvious (well, no more than a panto should).

The story of Dick Whittington is a pantomime staple, though it is a little convoluted. For those who don’t know, Dick heads for London, is gifted a magic talking cat by the Fairy Bowbells and arrives to a city not paved with gold, but beset by rats. He gets a job, falls in love and his cat chases away the rats. Then he and the gang head off to sea, in search of goods to sell and riches to be made. When they arrive back in London, Dick becomes Mayor and they all live happily ever after.

The plot is not really important. The show is about the musical numbers, dancing and groan-worthy puns. Kandaka Moore, as Dick, and Aryana Ramkhalawon as Alice, valiantly perform their more serious plot line. They showcase their beautiful vocals and carry the show’s message, which is the importance of striving for your dreams. It’s nice to have a woman playing Dick, and makes their storyline feel more modern, as it matters less that Alice is a slightly undeveloped love interest. Their romance is sweet and provides an emotional note to offset the silliness.

Graham MacDuff is fabulous as the deliciously evil rat king, dressed as a steampunk with a tail. He rocks out to remixes of Backstreet Boys and Chappell Roan, just some of the exquisitely playful music from Steven Edis. It’s delightfully silly.

Kat B is excellent as Tommy the Cat, especially during his solo, where black light and neon puppets are used to produce the most incredible effect of floating under the sea. It is a sudden and startlingly beautiful piece of direction.

However, the unquestionable star is Clive Rowe as Sarah the Cook. He commands the stage with cheekiness and flair, toeing the line perfectly between naughty and family friendly. Everyone in the audience, regardless of age, is eating out of his hand. He’s particularly joyous with Hackney panto staple Tony Timberlake, where they have a chance to play off each other and improv a little. Rowe’s musical numbers are rich and boppy, his puns awful but wonderful and his stage presence is unparalleled.

He wouldn’t be the star he is, however, without costume designer Cleo Pettitt. Each costume change is more outlandish and higher concept than the last – some favourites include a cash register, a pepper grinder and an entire cruise ship.

The supporting cast all ooze with panto giddiness, especially in dance numbers by choreographer Shay Barclay. Jemima Dawes and Alfie Simmons are particularly fun as cartoonish rat villains. Particular ensemble standouts are Olivia Kate Holding’s crystal-clear vocals, showcased in a short solo, and Fraser Stewart who gives every dance number 120% energy. Also, the Hackney Empire Young Ensemble who play the rat chorus and villagers are charming and adorable.

This is a campy and silly way to spend an evening, but feels festive and fun. It’s not stuck in the past and is a great night out for the whole family.

SCISSORHANDZ

Southwark Playhouse Elephant

★★★

“The cast are superb across the board and there is an easy camaraderie that adds to the feelgood factor”

SCISSORHANDZ

Southwark Playhouse Elephant

Reviewed on 30th January 2025

by Jonathan Evans

Photography by Danny Kaan

Previously reviewed at Southwark Playhouse venues:

SCISSORHANDZ

SCISSORHANDZ

SCISSORHANDZ

DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT

Hackney Empire

★★★★

“This is a campy and silly way to spend an evening, but feels festive and fun”

DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT at Hackney Empire

Reviewed on 5th December 2024

by Auriol Reddaway

Photography by Mark Senior

Previously reviewed at this venue:

DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT

DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT