Customer Reviews

Xanadu on Broadway (Original Broadway Cast Recording 2007)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

"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 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!

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

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.

I've seen the show 7 times and played it a zillion. So much fun and the cast is perfect. Cheyenne Jackson has a voice of gold and every word that Jackie says cracks me up every time. Just a lot of fun and a great way to get your mind off problems you are facing. If I could give it 20 stars, I would. Highly recommended.

Xanadu's Original Broadway Cast Recording is the perfect companion to Broadway's current hit musical. The CD is the closest thing you can get to actually being at the show. The songs are performed with wit and gusto by the amazingly talented cast. Complete with dialogue sections and an extensive and beautiful 20-page photo booklet, this CD is a must-have for all Xanadu fans everywhere! However, don't get confused: this isn't the movie soundtrack, and doesn't pretend to be either -- It's a campy, inspired good time that will have you singing along and smiling all at the same time!

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!!

I have yet to see Xanadu on Broadway, but I love what I've seen/heard of the show. This disc is incredible! But since they can't perserve the whole show along with witty dialouge, we just have the music, which is just fine. The music was the one thing about the movie that was good, and it still makes an excellent cast recording whatever odd years later. The music is still as good as it was, and the snatches of funny we do get are great. Even more than that, you can feel the cast's infectious sense of fun in the recording, and makes great pop even greater. And Kerry Butler and Cheyenne Jackson bring a beautiful sound and soul to the slower songs, while Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman TEAR UP "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic". And the ensemble is just to die for. I love this CD, and hope to see the show someday. Its great for kids too, I loved watching my baby sister stand on my bed using a water bottle for a micro phone and using her best, um, "belt", singing "DON'T WALK AWAY!!!!" Great CD.

The new OBC of "Xanadu" is an incredible fresh approach to a great movie soundtrack, but a horrible movie in itself. This cast brings new life to the already good music, but you can also hear and get a feel for the campy style that makes this musical a hit!

As of this review, I haven't seen the Broadway production of XANADU yet, but if this soundtrack gives any indication, there's one word that might lazily describe what's in store for me: insane!

Sure, the movie and its longevity may top off the insane scale, but leave it to Broadway, in it's hyper-active sensibility, to bring the movie to it's main street and napalm that scale.

Okay, I may have exaggerated a bit on that last line, but that's the norm with the production and leading into this CD.

Even though the movie may not be as over the top compared to it's late 70's bad musical brethren like Can't Stop The Music and The Apple, this hasn't stopped the cast and crew to take the sudtle kinks in Xanadu's system and lovingly milk it for it's entertaining worth.

Kerry Butler's performance as Olivia Newton-John/Kira/Clio/whatever is a clear example of this. In tracks like 'Suddenly' and 'Suspended In Time', Butler comically turns ONJ's breathless singing into desperate gasps for air and morphed her accent into Paul Hogan in drag.

Even though Michael Beck's wooden performance might not have worked well in this theatrical format, Cheyenne Jackson's turn as Sonny manages to effectively nails the character's stubborn gumption.

I've also gained a new level of respect for Tony Roberts. Not only for his bravery for taking on this show and filling in Danny McGaguire's shoes, but actually singing some of the ELO songs. Being a fan of the group, I have to joyfully giggle to hear him sing his share of 'All Over The World' & 'Don't Walk Away' (sounding like Louis Armstrong on the former).

Jackie Hoffman (Melpomene) and Mary Testa (Calliope) apply their collective panache to turn ELO's early hit Evil Woman into a real Broadway showstopper. After hearing this track, I thought of checking my calendar to see when the rest of the ELO catalog will have their own turn on stage. If Mr. Blue Sky isn't made and ready for Broadway, I don't know WHAT is...other than that Out Of the Blue spaceship.

Of course, I can rant off about snippets of the brilliant and hilarious dialogue spread through out this CD, but I better pace myself and wait until I see the show in April. I will note here that my favorite line thus far is uttered by Sonny during Suddenly: "You make me feel so invincible, I feel I can go into Downtown LA without a weapon!"

All of this giddiness might sound over barring, but, by appropriately mirroring the movie's almost naked sincerity, the performances are respectful and honest, which gives this whole production needed dramatic weight; 'Don't Walk Away' almost turns into a gospel tune towards the end and 'Whenever You're Away From Me' is just as heartfelt as the original. Kerry skillfully manages to balance the humor of her performance and the drama of the lyrics, especially with 'Suspended In Time'.

The recording production carries it's own surprises. The four-piece band covers all the song's original elaborate arrangements very well and, with tracks like Suspended and Whenever, add a level of intimacy. Not forgetting additional bits of fun with Strange Magic and Have You Never Been Mellow?

Even if you've seen the show a coupe of times (and to the more selective few, many, many, many, MANY times), read all about the show's history and know it ALL by heart, the CD booklet will surprise you, too. Not only are there pictures galore, there's the wonderfully detailed, informative and funny liner notes by the show's scribe himself, Douglas Carter Beane. (Imagine my surprise to learn that one of the original Xanadu screenwriters is an associate producer of this staged production! Good for him, he suffered long enough)

After listening to this a few times to get use to hearing...aw, screw it, sucking in Xanadu being amped up to a Spinal Tap 12, I think I ready for the face to face challenge of actually seeing this movie that I loved since 1980 being lovingly and sincerely mocked to such insane levels.

Thanks to this CD, I can now take it like a man, or a thick skinned fanboy (which you have to be after years of people question you sanity thanks to this Xanadu deal). The only thing I fear now is that while I'm in NYC to see this show, I'll be forced to see The Little Mermaid on stage, too. That Disney dude maybe insane, but he takes himself a little TOO seriously...and nothing kills an insane party than a moody drunk."