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Edward Scissorhands at 5th Avenue offers another take on the story, lacks charm of Burton film

Edward Scissorhands at 5th Avenue offers another take on the story, lacks charm of Burton film
by Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid - SGN A&E Writer Edward Scissorhands Directed and adapted by Matthew Bourne Starring Richard Windsor, Madelaine Brenner 5th Avenue Theatre April 25-May 13 Watching my date for the evening snore through parts of Edward Scissorhands at the opening last Thursday (April 26th), in some ways clarified my feelings about the show. Though, true, I mostly like it, in retrospect, after a weekend has passed between seeing it and reviewing it. Still, for the most part, even with the spiffy sets by Lez Brosthan, and all of those gorgeous perky dance numbers, the show just didn't really move me. Maybe the big problem for myself, (and a couple of others I talked to later), was that most of us still remember the film version by Tim Burton, and how dark and deliciously "gothy" it is. Something the stage version lacked. In fact, with all of the bright lighting and brightly colored costumes, Edward Scissorhands, the musical (which was more of a dance performance), lacked some of the film's gothic fairytale quality. And honestly, some of the points about the non-speaking cast (like the vampy housewife), were hammered home a little too heavily for my taste. Still, a week later, there are things I did like about the show. Two of the dances, featuring the mysterious scissorhanded Edward (Richard Windsor), with his love interest, (Madelaine Brennen) were delightfully watchable. And there were some funny moments, when the gothic churchgoing family would skulk and slink across the stage, accompanied by the live, Danny Elfman score. And the ending was every bit as heart rending and memorable as in the film version. So, whether you've seen the film or not, this show is still worth seeing, if only for the lively dance numbers--a few of which go on a little too long for this writer's taste. For information on tickets and show times, call 206-625-1900 or go online to www.5thavenue.org.