DIVA spoke to the star about her new unabashedly queer musical, Scissorhandz
BY YASMIN VINCE, IMAGE SUPPLIED
35 years ago, a pale synthetic man with scissors for hands waltzed onto the big screen and into the hearts queer kids everywhere. He may not have been queer himself, but as Edward Scissorhands leaves his gothic mansion to learn how to co-exist with the town below, the film and its celebration of being different struck a chord with queer audiences. Over three decades later, an unabashedly queer retelling, Scissorhandz, is coming to London, co-produced by Michelle Visage.
“I’m an avid fan of Edward Scissorhands,” Michelle told DIVA after she hosted the show’s launch event. “And anytime somebody says to me, ‘Would you like to do something that you love and turn it into a musical?’ I’m gonna sign up.” Though she and creator Bradley Bredeweg were tight-lipped about how faithful the show is to the original film, they promised a night of queer joy, complete with a happy ending. “That sounded very naughty,” joked Michelle. “But anything that ends with a happy ending is wonderful for me.”
Michelle adds that one of the reasons she loved Bradley’s script was because it added a happy ending to the story. “The film is a massive hit in the queer community because of the misfit outcast element, but it ends on such a down note. Scissorhandz has a happier ending. It’s important for the kids who see it to know that there is happiness.”
Since she first left New Jersey for the big apple in the 1980s, Michelle has been immersed in queer culture. That continued with her theatre work – her West End debut saw her take on Miss Hedge in the queer musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. In her producing role, she’s determined to bring more celebratory queer shows to the stage. “Let’s be honest here,” she says. “All musical theatre is queer theatre. That’s who’s in it, that’s who’s going to see it. Without queer people, musical theatre would not be alive.” As such, with Scissorhandz, she and the team took something mainstream and made it completely queer, from the cast to the storyline and music.
One character that stands out in Scissorhandz is Peg (Emma Williams), the woman who takes in the outcast and stands up for them in front of the town. Her staunch defence of Scissorhandz and celebration of the things that make the character different is reminiscent of Michelle herself who has been an incredible ally for the LGBTQIA community. “It was always my place to be an ally,” explains Michelle. She stuck-up for someone in high school and in that moment, knew she would never keep her mouth shut. “I have a big mouth and I want to use it better. I want to educate people through love, not hate.”
One of Michelle’s children is queer as well. “I want to help make this world a better place for them. What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t fight for my child? This was my platform before I had kids and it’ll be there with me till the end.” So in the next 35 years, Michelle will still be on the frontlines, pushing for a better world. “What do I hope to see in the future? No more hate, just acceptance, love, lots of colours, lots of music and a better place for everybody. It doesn’t need to be so difficult.”
Scissorhandz will be at the Southwark Playhouse from 23 January to 29 March. Ticket information can be found on the musical’s website.
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