The first smash hit of the 2007-2008 Broadway season turned out to be one of the biggest surprises in Broadway history: XANADU, which roller-skated its way into the hearts of critics and audiences alike. A hilariously rein... more »vented send-up of the 1980's Olivia Newton-John film flop, this irreverent musical adventure, about following your dreams when others say you shouldn't, spins along to the addictive original hit film score by pop-rock legends Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. XANADU follows the beautiful Greek muse Kira as she visits Venice Beach, CA in 1980 to induce an uninspired artist, Sonny, to build the first roller disco (yes!). When she accidentally falls in love with him, much to her jealous sister muses' dismay, chaos and fun abound, skate wheels turn and disco balls twirl. The updated script by Douglas Carter Beane takes the plot and dialogue to knee-slapping extremes, while the legendary chart-topping tunes get a musical theatre makeover via a stellar company of performers. This original Broadway cast recording will keep XANADU in your head, and heart, forever.« less
The first smash hit of the 2007-2008 Broadway season turned out to be one of the biggest surprises in Broadway history: XANADU, which roller-skated its way into the hearts of critics and audiences alike. A hilariously reinvented send-up of the 1980's Olivia Newton-John film flop, this irreverent musical adventure, about following your dreams when others say you shouldn't, spins along to the addictive original hit film score by pop-rock legends Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. XANADU follows the beautiful Greek muse Kira as she visits Venice Beach, CA in 1980 to induce an uninspired artist, Sonny, to build the first roller disco (yes!). When she accidentally falls in love with him, much to her jealous sister muses' dismay, chaos and fun abound, skate wheels turn and disco balls twirl. The updated script by Douglas Carter Beane takes the plot and dialogue to knee-slapping extremes, while the legendary chart-topping tunes get a musical theatre makeover via a stellar company of performers. This original Broadway cast recording will keep XANADU in your head, and heart, forever.
""Xanadu" was notorious for being perhaps the worst movie of the 1980s. The only worthwhile thing about it was the music half written by Jeff Lynne of ELO(Electric Light Orchestra) and the other half by John Farrar whose muse was Olivia Newton John who coincidentally played a muse in the ill-conceived film. The principal culprit in the movies downfall was the screenplay which was dumb and played straight by the actors.
The Broadway version actually opened to favorable reviews and the main culprit for its success is the book which is still dumb but this time the actors, the book adapter and the director embrace the dumb, nay they celebrate the dumb and spin the show into a delightful if lightweight delight.
This time the songs are sung by the actors instead of by ELO on the soundtrack and Kerry Butler and
Cheyenne Jackson are great and old-pro Tony Roberts has a nice role as Danny a forties crooner once assisted by Kerry Butlers Kira.
The CD contains a few numbers not on the movie soundtrack including "Have You Never Been Mellow" a Olivia Newton John oldie and perhaps a slight nod to her since she was the original Kira. The music from the movie was always the best thing about it but now they sound even better on this CD and i bet the songs along with the zany stage antics are absolutely joyful. I had planned to see the show -now that I have the cast recording i really, really plan to see the show.
"
The Place Where Everyone Is Going!
Skot | 01/09/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The season's big surprise hit is accredited to Book writer Douglas Carter Beane, who not only had a ball creating the script, but allows us in on the fun and never leaves us out. Beane takes the material just seriously enough to establish credibility while teetering on the sublime but never going over the top.
As far as the CD is concerned, credit is given to Music Director Eric Stern who has known all along that the strength of the material lies in the songs. Though the orchestra is stripped to about five musicians, and the cast exists of twelve performers, listeners are not void of talent or quality.
Kerry Butler is adorable as Kira, the muse who comes to rescue Sonny, portrayed to perfection by Cheyenne Jackson. This Broadway stud proves that he can not only sing, dance, and act, but can rollerskate as well! Tony Roberts adds sweet affection to "Whenever You're Away From Me," as Danny and is quite enjoyable when playing Zeus.
The Muses justify an argument for a Tony category for Best Ensemble, buy it's Mary Testa & Jackie Hoffman who stop the show with their hilarious rendition of "Evil Woman."
The place where "nobody dared to go" is now the place where everyone is going!"
Just Meant to be Fun!
AJK | Chicago, IL | 01/12/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Expectations for the Broadway musical "Xanadu" were not especially high. Based on the wretched, cult-favorite 1980 motion picture, starring Olivia Newton-John, the show instead pokes fun at the motion while maintaining its terrific soundtrack of songs, composed by Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra) and John Farrar. In fact, a couple of other well-known songs by these composers ("Evil Woman", "Strange Magic" and "Have You Never Been Mellow") were added to the production. The show became a hit with the critics.
Taken in this less-serious context, the show's score sounds fun (and it is), though there are a couple of duds in the score (and its a bit short overall). The cast, however, led by Kerry Butler, Cheyenne Jackson, Mary Testa & Jackie Hoffman, sound great throughout!
Best tracks include:
I'm Alive
Magic
Evil Woman (a hysterical interpretation by Testa/Hoffman)
Suddenly
All Over The World
Xanadu"
So much fun!
J. Jones | 01/18/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I picked this up about a month ago, and I can't stop listening to it! It's just so much fun! Catchy and hilarious, this one is a must-listen! If you liked Wicked, Hairspray, The Wedding Singer, Mamma Mia!, Legally Blonde, or other up-beat musicals, this is definitely the next one you should add to your collection."
A perfect souvenir from a perfectly, hysterically FUN time o
Darla's Boy | New York City | 01/17/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'd just like to mention before I rave about the CD that the music and dialogue on this CD is the way the material is performed in the musical on stage, which seeing it is at times hysterical, at times charming, and at times endearing and tender... For those who have not seen the musical but have listened to the CD and rated it poorly, please know that once you've seen the musical, you'll say, "oh! so THAT'S why they say this on the CD," or "THAT'S why it's sung like that..." If you're not in or around NYC and are unable to come to see it, don't worry - it will eventually be in your area as a touring show, as all huge broadway hits are... and this is a justifiably HUGE HIT! If you haven't bought the CD but are considering buying, BUY IT! So when you see it, you'll laugh HARD and say, "I remember them saying/singing that on the CD and it really IS funny!" Although it's not all intended to be just funny. There are several songs that are downright beautiful (thanks to Kerry Butler's and Cheyenne Jackson's singing).
Regarding the singing, You can't get any better than Cheyenne Jackson and Kerry Butler! Her Australian accent is intended to be an exaggeration, and her "breathy" parts are both a "shout out" to the fans of Olivia as well as Olivia herself -- and an homage (exaggerated of course) to Olivia's fantastic style of singing. Watching Kerry perform these songs is such a delight. For Cheyenne, well, there's no words to truly describe his singing... it's just sheer amazing. Sublimely beautiful. OK, there are a few words!
Mary Testa, an amazing Broadway talent, has a phenomenal voice, although in this musical she uses it for totally hysterical purposes - so if you aren't familiar with her work, don't get the wrong impression! The woman is TALENTED! Watching her sing her solos are truly laugh-out-loud moments - especially with her other "evil muse sister," the phenomenal comedienne Jackie Hoffman.
About the dancing, when you DO see the musical... AMAZING. Not just because it's top-notch broadway dancing, but because the dancing is done on roller skates and is STILL top-notch! Wait until you see Chris Holbrook do his stunning tap dance solo on a grand piano -- it's a moment that nearly steals the show! Throughout the rest of the show he, Andre Ward and the other "muses" dance in an array of styles that one is left completely in awe by their skill and versatility. Singing, dancing and roller skating all at the same time and doing it with total effortlessness is something to see. (My personal shout-out to Marty Thomas... You're awesome!!)
I know this seems like a review of the musical, but I'm trying to explain that the CD is the AUDIO track of the MUSIC (with some "lead-in" dialogue) to enjoy for those who have seen it as well as for those who, hopefully, WILL see it when the get the opportunity!
Two quick notes regarding a couple of comments above:
First, regarding the comment that the length of the CD is "too short." Every song in the musical is on the CD. The musical wasn't just one song after another. There was, as with many musicals, dialogue between the songs. So the producers couldn't very well "write new songs" just to fill up the CD...
Second, recommending the original soundtrack instead really doesn't make sense. Many people HAVE the E.L.O. songs already, as well as the Olivia songs. The songs on the musical CD are the songs from the MUSICAL. The musical wasn't intended to be an exact re-make of the movie and songs for the stage. It's different, and is intended to be different. It's both an homage to what talent WAS in the movie (i.e. Olivia's and ELO's songs) as well as a fun spoof of the movie as a whole.
THANKS TO ALL WHO MADE THE SHOW AND THE CD AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!"