SCISSORHANDZ - Southwark Playhouse Elephant (21/02/25)

Tim Burton is a figure one would fairly comfortably associate with all things camp and kooky, especially in terms of his style and the bizarre nature of the characters he’s brought to the screen. So one would not be remiss in stating that new musical parody “Scissorhandz” (styled with a ‘z’) absolutely fits the bill in terms of being a fun adaptation, if not a terrific tribute to his work, both in how his characters are represented, and the means by which Bradley Bredeweg, Kelley Parker and Brian Pendleton present this unusual story.

Lauren Jones and Jordan Kai-Burnett (credit: Tristram Kenton)

Scissorhandz reimagines the original 1990 film as a sort of jukebox rock opera, massively colourful, lively and vibrant, with plenty of camp, and a considerable helping of the bizarre. It isn’t high art, and it absolutely doesn’t profess to be, it’s a show that knows full well how daft and tongue-in-cheek it is, which is what endears it to us as an audience. But what sells it to us fully is the performances of every member of its cast, with particular praise reserved for the quality of vocals across the board.

What this show lacks in refinement it more than makes up for in sheer enjoyment factor, with some hilariously caricaturish characters, portrayed with great conviction and always wonderful humour. Jordan Kai-Burnett is a knockout as the titular handbuilt outcast, always wonderfully weird, yet eliciting such sympathy and unbridled support from the audience, plus her vocal performance was out of this world.

Tricia Adele-Turner, Ryan O’Connor and Annabelle Terry (credit: Tristram Kenton)

Lauren Jones is a constant treat, showing her considerable acting chops, and absolutely taking the house down with her performance of Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter”, in a properly empowering, defiant display of strength. Tricia Adele-Turner, Ryan O’Connor and Annabelle Terry were all fabulous, giving us a mix of Heathers and Drag Race for a delightfully camp, and always utterly hysterical combination. Terry in particular as religious nut Esmerelda was this critic’s pick of the day, she absolutely hammed it up and chewed the scenery to hilarious effect, and her comic acting and timing always delighted all who were present.

The show isn't without its issues, the emotional impact of the overall plot perhaps gets a little lost amid all of the inherent fun and folly, try as they might to inject a degree of seriousness and sincerity. We do, however, just about feel enough sympathy for the eponymous antihero, as Brown and Turner's brilliant natural chemistry cuts through the often facetious nature of this riotous romp of a musical. And it doesn't take away from the fact that this is a quirky, hugely enjoyable, and brilliantly bonkers piece of theatre that will have you foot tapping and thigh slapping aplenty.

★★★★☆

"Scissorhandz" plays at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until the 29th of March.