Lots of school kids feel like outsiders, but only one has scissors for hands. That would be Edward Scissorhands (played by Johnny Depp in the 1990 film).

Now we have Edward Scissorhands the dancer in residence through Dec. 31 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, in the double-cast persons of Richard Winsor and Sam Archer. Winsor danced on opening night.

Created by a tailor who perhaps had thoughts of employing the kid as a cutter, Edward is left alone when the tailor suddenly dies. With his shock of black hair that looks like he took a huge electrical jolt, a perpetually perplexed expression and a costume stitched out of sofa leather, Edward is left to shift for himself.

Choreographer Matthew Bourne, best known for the Swan Lake with bare-chested all-male swans, has taken the film character and, together with scenic designer Lez Brotherston, created a universe around him.

That universe is a neighborhood in 1950s U.S.A., illustrated brilliantly in the “Suburban Ballet” section. Perfect pastel cookie-cutter houses, each with a perfect, perky family of four who pour out of their perfect, neat dwellings to take on their perfect days: the middle-aged jogger, the jock with the letter jacket, the poodle walker. Witty, wonderful and so very Bourne.

The lonely Edward finds a friend in Mrs. Boggs (Etta Murfitt), initially frightened but won over by his kind and non-threatening ways. She brings him into the house, where he will eventually meet and fall for ponytailed daughter Kim (Hannah Vassallo).

Bourne and Brotherston manage to draw instantly comprehensible characters without a single word. Vamp neighbor Joyce Monroe (Michela Meazza) gets to wear skintight clothes and drape herself kittenishly all over the place. Her seduction of Edward in the kitchen, while husband George (Steve Kirkham) wanders in and out from his lawnmowing tasks, will not soon be forgotten.

The uptight Rev. Judas Evercreech (Matthew Malthouse) – complete with clerical collar – his wife (Rachel Morrow) and kids (Shelby Williams and Ross Carpenter), pass through from time to time, cluck-clucking Greek chorus style at almost all the goings-on.

The political Uptons – Mayor Franklin Upton III (Gareth Charlton), wife Charity (Mikah Smillie) and children Darlene (Gemma Payne) and James (James Leece) – wear campaign buttons and lots of the old red, white and blue.

What Bourne does better than anyone is wit and crowd-control choreography. In Edward Scissorhands, most of the cast is onstage most of the time (which may explain why there are two complete casts), and Bourne has a way of choreographing crowds doing different things in pairs. It’s a bit frustrating to watch – too much to see, too many places for the eye to alight and delight – but it’s great spectacle.

Edward Scissorhands lacks the eye-popping physical virtuosity of Swan Lake, but makes up for it in a nonstop and delightful portrayal of a time and of a character who just wants to fit in. There’s also the wit of sections like “Topiary,” featuring the dancers as leaf-covered animals. Yep, in pots.

Kudos also to conductor Andrew Bryan for the terrific pit band. Bourne wanted film composer Danny Elfman to write additional music for the ballet, but Elfman was unable to work it into his schedule. Terry Davies picked up the slack, and handsomely. The woodwinds in particular are fabulous.

Though Bourne is British, Edward Scissorhands looks quintessentially American, with echoes of West Side Story and Copland in the choreography. Dance fans who love the film as well as those who don’t know it will enjoy meeting Edward Scissorhands at the Ahmanson.

Edward Scissorhands plays through Dec. 31 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Shows Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 p.m., with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. For tickets, call (213) 628-2772 or visit www.centertheatregroup.org.

In 1949, San Diego got its first supermarket – Mayfair – in North Park, Mission Bay Aquatic Park was dedicated and electric street cars made their final run.

Little Italy in 1949 is the setting for this year’s installment of Lamb’s Players Theatre’s annual Festival of Christmas, subtitled “All I Want for Christmas.” The action centers around Gold’s Fountain, a coffee shop owned by the Gabbiano family. Grace (Kerry Meads) runs the shop, where aging dad Fritz (Jim Chovick) spends most of his time. Grace’s divorced son, Anthony (Jon Lorenz), has a dream of making it big in music with his quartet The Bops. Unfortunately, he is so busy pursuing his career that his young son, Clark (Ian Brininstool), is pretty much growing up without either parent.

Also in the cast are cab driver Bernice Pulaski (K.B. Mercer), a sort of Rosie the Riveter on wheels; Joe Slobodny the milkman (David Cochran Heath); and fix-it man Milton Spooner (Doren Elias). Joe’s never-seen mother, Eethyle, is a frequent caller to the shop, inspiring a ritual in which Joe runs for the door when he hears the phone ring. Fritz fields the calls.

Nobody in this group is married, so there’s room for plenty of instant Christmas cheer and the possibility of romance and permanent connection down the road.

But there isn’t much in the way of action. Characters sit around and talk about what they want, and then they leave and Anthony’s quartet comes in to rehearse a number, then Clark comes in from school and Grace makes him do his homework, and… well, it’s not all that fascinating as theater. And it’s a long show, close to two and a half hours including intermission.

On the upside, Jeanne Reith’s period costumes are great, the actors do a splendid job with types they’ve played before and the quartet (consisting of Lorenz, Kelli Kelley, Season Duffy and Kürt Norby) sings wonderfully the close-harmony arrangements of Vanda Eggington and Cris O’Bryon.

This 29th edition of the Festival of Christmas lacks a bit of panache and focus but is a pleasant enough evening.

Lamb’s Players Festival of Christmas plays through Dec. 30 at Lamb’s Players Theatre. Shows Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 4:00 and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. For tickets, call (619) 437-0600 or visit www.lambsplayers.org.