Didn’t Your Mother Ever Tell You Not To Run With Scissors?

Matthew Bourne’s mother certainly did not. Nor did she tell him that he shouldn’t choreograph with them either and it all ends in tears. Or rather, snow. Fake snow.

So basically I went to see Edward Scissorhands at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London. Sadler’s Wells is a dedicated dance venue and at the moment it is currently hosting Matthew Bourne’s adaptation of the film.

This was pretty easy going dance. It wasn’t particularly engaging but had good production values and a slick presentation making it the Hollywood equivalent of the dance world.

It is a shame though that having 10 pairs of scissors cellotaped to each arm (I lie apparently it takes over an hour to do the makeup and stitch Sam Archer into his costume) does make it pretty difficult to do anything more than waddle around stage looking perplexed. Not Sam Archer’s fault; Matthew Bourne’s. You really can’t make a ballet out of a film with an eponymous hero without giving them so pretty cool principle stuff to do.

Highlights included the music based on Danny Elfman’s original score although it was entirely possible to hear both the theme tune to the Simpsons and Desperate Housewives in some places, played by quite a small orchestra who made a very convincing big sound. There is hope that 12 players can pull off a lush and impressive score. Lez Brotherstone’s set was also very well designed, being neither obtrusive or lack lustre. Something I think is very difficult for designers of dance pieces.

Bad call on the dancing topiary though. You just CANNOT have dancers dressed in privet suits cavorting while they look like organic versions of Bertie the Basset Allsorts monster.

Either way pretty cool for an easy night out. Made all the better by going with a work colleage who is an ex-pro dancer and has many friends in the Edward Scissorhands cast. Matthew Bourne also made an appearance a few rows infront of us. Obviously he came to watch all the choreography that he allegedly never actually does himself.

It's great getting all this industry insider dirt.

A New Word For Your Dictionary

Permo.

Permo is a noun ("a permo", "permos") which means "permanent staff member". This is a piece of vocabularly invented during my time at Bluesure where us temps (temporary staff members) sometimes took up a generous offer of becoming permanent.

Why should I be enriching your vocabularly today? Well because I have become a permo. Or rather, I have just been made full time (35 hours) rather than part time (30 hours per week). I will be devoting 5 hours of my week to the Education Department and will have more money.

Permo. Try and use it in a sentence today.

Xander

My Work Is So Popular People Want To Plagiarise It

Well actually they want to plagiarise Margaret and Grace's work.

Sure highschool kid, I'll send you a copy of the script. What's that you say? You want to know if you can have it by a certain date? I wonder why you are in such a hurry. Could it be you have a creative writing assignment?

Go write your own amazing musical theatre, quit bothering me.