Xanadu on Broadway
Original Broadway Cast Recording
PS Classics
Available: Jan. 8, 2008

It’s guilty pleasure time.

I grew up in the 1970s, so even though I’m typically classified as a diehard metalhead, I can’t help but be nostalgic of the influences from my childhood, which include Annie, The Pirate Movie and 1980’s Xanadu.

Yup, Xanadu, the movie starring a post-Grease Olivia Newton-John as a Kira, a Muse who comes to Earth to bring inspiration to frustrated artist Sonny (played by feather-haired Michael Beck, fresh from The Warriors). The film, while looking back right now was quite cheesy, it brings back great memories of legwarmers-wearing, rollerskating times and the sounds of that fabulous Electric Light Orchestra/Olivia Newton-John motion picture soundtrack.

That’s why when I was asked if I wanted to review Original Broadway Cast Recording for the Xanadu musical, I jumped at it (yes, jumped!!!).

My only regret is that I didn’t catch the musical on Broadway first, because 1) I think I would have totally dug it (I’m also a New Yorker, so Broadway is part of my cultural upbringing); and 2) it would have made listening to this CD a much more enjoyable experience. But, even so, I just really love these tunes, some of which were written by ELO’s Jeff Lynne, others by long-time Newton-John collaborator John Farrar.

For the most part, from what I can tell from the cast recording, the musical follows the plot of the film. Unfortunately, the parts that were added for the stage really don’t fit in — or at least they don’t musically. For instance, playwriter Douglas Carter Beane, who so obviously lovingly adapted the film for the stage, really stretched the plot to include ELO hits “Strange Magic” and “Evil Woman,” both of which, I hate to say it, sound horrible as sung by Kira’s sisters. I’m sure these ladies are talented, but their exaggerating vocalizing on these tunes, as well as on “Have You Ever Been Mellow?” (a Newton-John song unrelated to the original film) is just too much to handle. I’m guessing this is an instance where seeing the musical would have made these performances tolerable, but without knowing what the acting was like, it does no good on this recording.

But, really, that was my only issue with this CD. Otherwise, the movie soundtrack songs translated beautifully to the stage. The first track, “I’m Alive,” is an energetic opener performed by Kira and her sisters in a style that perfectly fits the scene of the Muses coming to life from a mural. Kerry Butler is spot-on in the Newton-John role and her versions of “Magic,” “Fool,” and “Xanadu” are not only my favorite on the recording, but are as enjoyable as their original film counterparts.

As with many Broadway adaptations of pop culture classics, the live band totally rocks out. There’s always a banging drummer and a lead guitar god down there in that tiny orchestra pit that lifts the music to new heights and inspires the actors on stage. It’s no different for the Xanadu on Broadway musical (cheers to the dudes in the Pit).

The duet between Kira and Sonny (Cheyenne Jackson) “Suddenly” as well as renditions of “Suspended in Time,” “The Fall,” and “All Over the World” are all a pleasurable listen, but it’s the title track that makes this CD worth grabbing.

Xanadu on Broadway definitely doesn’t take itself seriously, and the characters often insert humorous dialogue into the songs. It’s obvious that Beane and the musical’s producers realized in order to pull off this adaptation, they’d have to poke a little fun at the campy source material, and that’s what makes this stage version a success, at least musically — again, I didn’t see the play, but from the video clips I’ve watched, and pictures I’ve seen, it really seems adorable and fun.

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Xanadu (original cast recording) Tracklisting
1. I’m Alive
2. Magic
3. Evil Woman
4. Suddenly
5. Whenever You’re Away From Me
6. Dancin’
7. Strange Magic
8. All Over the World
9. Don’t Walk Away
10. Fool
11. The Fall
12. Suspended in Time
13. Have You Never Been Mellow?
14. Xanadu