Monday 31 March 2008

Xanadu

Got a spare 80 minutes and fancy some daft, camp fun with lots of glitterballs? Then go and see 'Xanadu'. To call this a spoof on the film is an understatement - it takes the basic premise of the film and then dips it in 100% proof campery and mercilessly laughs at itself. Any show with that many glitterballs in it must be good.

The show opens with Sonny, the epitome of the thick but happy Californian drawing on a pavement and telling us of his dreams to unite all the arts and sport into one thing - a roller disco (naturally). Then the Muses appear and Clio, the head Muse takes on the name of Kira along with the most ridiculous Australian accent to help him. As you'd expect, they fall in love, cursed by the two evil Muses, and then the trouble begins. The story doesn't really matter though, just give up and let yourself slide into the nonsense and it all falls together.

It's a piece of fluff, it takes the piss out of itself and the '80s film and goes for a ride on rollerskates. At one point it's commented that 1980 saw the end of art and in future Broadway shows would be based on bad films... The Oracle has spoken truly! But it's great fun, the actors looking like they're enjoying it, being daft on stage and camping it up, and the grand finale has everyone on their feet, as the cast appear on rollerskates whizzing around and the mass of glitterballs desend from the ceiling - it has to be seen to be believed.

Don't go for high art because you won't get any - go for the sheer fun of it! I've already invested in the cast recording!

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