Xanadu theater version
It's a hit, seriously
If you haven’t already heard by now, Xanadu (yes, that hideous thing of a film) has not only been adapted into a musical, it’s the first new hit of Broadway season. Favourable notices from critics have lifted the skepticism of theatergoers who remember the 1980 movie as being a big fat bomb.
Now with its success, it makes me won-der if Broadway is spotting a new trend of turning bad movies into hit musicals. We all know by now that successful stage adaptations such as Hairspray, Mary Poppins, and Legally Blonde are making some serious coin at the box office, so it’s understandable why producers bank on recognizable titles for their next hit.
But what puzzles me most is why producers are now relying on dredging up old crap that never worked in the first place. Only a brave few take risks by doing daring and innovative works like last years Tony Award winning musical Spring Awakening.
Thank God the producers of this show have hired gay playwright Douglas Carter Beane to write an entirely new book, which is campy, clever and pokes fun at the film.
For those who don’t remember (or those who want to forget) Xanadu was a vehicle for Olivia Newton-John, who found great success in Grease. Hollywood anticipated that lighting would strike twice. Instead, it died a painful death at the box office.
However, over the years, mainly because of its unintentional high camp content and hit songs such as “Magic,” “I’m Alive” and the title song, the film has become a gay cult classic.
“There were times when we were afraid that once the gays stop coming we would lose our audiences,” says super cutie and cast member Marty Thomas. “My mother brought a group of 60-plus mid-western housewives to New York to see Phantom, Wicked, Jersey Boys, but it was Xanadu that was their favourite.”
Not being a big fan of this current influx of movie adaptations, perhaps I should blame legendary Broadway producer David Merrick, who started it all back in 1961 when he purchased the rights to the MGM movie Lili. Many in the theatrical community raised an eyebrow at this idea, but Merrick, who was ahead of his time found success with what would become the musical Carnival, paving the way for this current trend.
But let us not forget that not all stage adaptations have fared as well. Remember the god-awful (but fabulous) Carrie? What about the others that followed her such as Big, Urban Cowboy, Footloose and last season’s dismal The Wedding Singer.
Having turned garbage into gold with Xanadu, I can just imagine what will follow in the upcoming years. Perhaps Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield will reprise their roles Grease 2 or The Village People’s You Can’t Stop The Music will be the next Disney show starring Paris Hilton in the Valerie Perrine role. Now that would certainly have the fags flocking. Here’s to Xanadu, whose “neon lights” are finally shining.
Xanadu is now showing at the Helen Hayes Theatre in New York City. For tickets, visit Telecharge.com or call 212-239-6200.