XANADU
By: Elliot Rush

Xanadu

It's nice to report that the Helen Hayes Theater, Broadway's smallest and most intimate theater, has undergone an interior facelift. The walls have been given a fresh coat of paint and the off white ceiling has been detailed in gold. The aisles have all new carpeting and the handsome seats are brand new as well. Comfortable, too. These are some of the visible changes to the theater and they are a vast improvement over the old. It's also seems like a new air conditioning system was installed in the building and, for better or worse, it was working overtime at a recent evening performance caught by this reviewer. It's the summer in New York right now and the weather is hot and muggy, so a cool environment is greatly appreciated. Unfortunately at the Helen Hayes Theater, an artic chill was gusting over the mid-section of the theater where this reviewer was seated and it created an extremely uncomfortable viewing experience. After 90 minutes, the entire length of the intermissionless Xanadu, this critic was numb; but not just numb from the blasting cold, numb from the mindless drivel going on onstage.

As it turned out, an overworking air conditioning system wasn't the only problem Xanadu had going against it at this particular performance. Several cast members were out of the show, including the leading man. It's hard to believe that when a show is barely open two weeks, three cast members out of a total of ten would already be out. Cheyenne Jackson, who made his mark on Broadway as the lead in All Shook Up, and plays the leading role of Sonny, is a temporary replacement for James Carpinello who seriously injured his foot in a roller skating accident during previews. The audience at this particular performance was seeing the understudy to the temporary replacement, an actor by the name of Curtis Holbrook. Curtis Holbrook is not untalented, but he is not special enough for a leading role and he is not a match for his co-star Kerry Butler.

Cheyenne Jackson and Kerry Butler
Peter Lueders/Paul Kolnik Studio

For those who are unfamiliar, Xanadu the musical is a spoof of the 1980 movie starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. The movie was outrageously awful and probably responsible for killing the film career of Olivia Newton-John. It didn't do much for helping the plight of the movie musical that began to have some resurgence during that time with the film version of Grease . The plot couldn't be sillier. A muse known as Clio from ancient Greece ascends from a chalk mural on the sidewalks of Venice Beach and is smitten with the sidewalk artist known as Sonny. The goddess takes on the persona of the Australian mortal Kira dressed in roller skates, leg warmers and fan-blowed hair and she inspires Sonny to open a roller disco nightclub called Xanadu. Kerry Butler inhabits the character perfectly and does a mean Olivia Newton-John impersonation to boot. Clio has two sisters who are jealous of her and her budding relationship with Sonny. Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman, two actresses unfamiliar with the word subtle, play the sisters. Tony Roberts has the thankless roles of Danny Maguire and the god Zeus. What is he doing in this show?

Douglas Carter Beane, who received a Tony nomination last season for Little Dog Laughed, has provided the revised book for Xanadu. The humor is tongue-in-cheek and tires very quickly. Beane has provided much funnier work elsewhere. The score by John Farrar and Jeff Lynne of the 70s rock group Electric Light Orchestra is lifted from the movie's soundtrack. Christopher Ashley, the director, does the best he can with the material provided and the choreographer Dan Knechtges creates a few bright moments. The set is uninspired and provides for audience members to sit on stage for no apparent reason other than to create additional seating to charge money for. The costumes are appropriate and over the top when necessary.

Kerry Butler flanked by Mary Testa, Jackie Hoffman and the Mues
Photo by Paul Kolnik

Xanadu is a show that belongs off-Broadway. It is simply not Broadway caliber. It has the sensibility of an off-Broadway show and in the right environment, it is the kind of show that at one time could have thrived many years there. Strangely, the economics of producing a musical off-Broadway these days have become prohibitive. So even though the risk to produce a show on Broadway is much greater, including a much higher budget, the upside is that the show can actually make some money if it catches on. The producers of Xanadu took that risk and it appears to be working in their favor. Not only have the majority of critics been kind to the show; the audiences appear to be having a terrific time. Word of mouth must be positive as well because attendance is way up and the show is playing to capacity crowds. So, despite this negative assessment of the show, there seems to be an audience who is having a wonderful experience, even at $111.25 a ticket. Go figure!

XANADU - Book by Douglas Carter Beane, score by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, directed by Christopher Ashley with choreography by Dan Knechtges.

Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 W. 44th St.; Tickets - $41.25-$111.25. Call 212-239-6200.