XANADU Reviews- Page 4

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:12pm

YES !!!!!!!! Thanks- it was ISHERWOOD !!!

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:13pm

I wouldn't call it a rave.

Definitely a money review, but he does have some slightly negative words to say.

Hey as long as I can look at something other than a 'quote' from Perez mediawhore Hilton on my walk to work I'm fine with them pulling out even the negative words from their reviews. :)

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:14pm

Let's tally ! (All the Reviews you guys included here) as of 10:14 pm EST
***********************
1. Word of Mouth (Audri, Cindi & Randi)- POSITIVE
2. NY1 News (Roma Torre)- POSITIVE
3. NY Variety (David Rooney) -RAVE
4. Talkin' Broadway (Matthew Murray)- POSITIVE
5. Hollywood Reporter (Frank Schneck)- NEGATIVE
6. Associated Press (Michael Kuchawara) - RAVE
7. NY Times (Charles Isherwood)- POSITIVE


****
RAVE-2
Positive-4
Mixed-
Negative-1




Updated On: 7/10/07 at 10:14 PM

[Julian2]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:16pm

Xanadu. The guilty pleasure you don't have to feel guilty about.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:18pm

Would you really call Isherwood a *rave?*

Mr. Roberts possesses a polished deadpan style, but Mr. Beane’s inspiration seems to have failed him when it came to minting fresh fun from the subplot involving flashbacks to Danny’s 1940s romance.

The stage “Xanadu” can’t really muster much in the way of an extravaganza, either, despite Dan Knechtges’s mercilessly cheesy choreography and the music director Eric Stern’s zesty pop arrangements. (For those attuned to higher musical planes, yes, he is that Eric Stern.)

The production is skimpy on both the casting and design fronts.

A few dozen audience members are seated onstage, but this device, used effectively in “Spring Awakening,” seems less an aesthetic choice than an economic one here. With a cast of just 10 and minimal sets (the designer David Gallo seems to have blown much of the budget on disco balls), “Xanadu” uses these onstage viewers as unpaid extras and space-filling, mildly animated scenery.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:19pm

So glad to see it got some great reviews, Jane must be screaming in the background somewhere!

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:19pm

C'mon guys - Be sport ! XANADU is getting positive to rave as of now...

As for NY Times- I think I will go with POSITIVE....he does really say .. its the best show! I agreed with Anakeela with some points... I re-edit it...

J*
Updated On: 7/10/07 at 10:19 PM

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:21pm

I think Word of Mouth is - rave ...

J*



No it is not. Do you know what a rave is? It is when they go on and on and on about how amazing the show is how their are no faults and how it is one of the best pieces of theater- all of that without hesitations. That was definitely not WORD OF MOUTH. It is positive.

[mominator]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:22pm

"Heaven on wheels, and in legwarmers"

I would call the Times review a Rave to a Positive.

Updated On: 7/10/07 at 10:22 PM

[DirtyRottenMemberName]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:22pm

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

::gasp:: YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

im sure these reviews will leave this joyous romp "suspended in time"...


Updated On: 7/10/07 at 10:22 PM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:23pm

I would most definitely call the Times review positive.

Still, nothing to scoff at. When I first saw this a couple of weeks ago, remembering what people were saying, how can they bring this without Jane, it's gonna be such crap, etc, and having the time of my life, realizing how much everyone who goes is enjoying this show, and as time went on, more and more thinking this was gonna get awesome reviews. It appears that seems to be the case.

I'm so happy. Murray was right (that's a phrase I never thought I'd use), this show has extreme talent in every department. I already have my first onstage seat for July 31. When was the last time such a "fun", not trying to be "high-art" show has gotten great reviews?

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:25pm

Trust me roscoe, I doubt Jane Krakowski is screaming.

[Curtains07]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:25pm

I can see it now in front of the HH:

'Heaven on wheels' -The New York Times

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:36pm

WOOT!! SOOOO excited!!

Must go back!!

And sit on stage!!

[dramarama2]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:40pm

Well if the times, and everybody else, liked it, than the hollywood reporter reviewer has problems. If I was him i'd be embarrassed. He had nothing nice to say! He was just looking for criticism!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 10:46pm

THEATERMANIA is a RAVE (or close to it):

The simple reason is that only the doltish could fail to improve on something so awful -- and the Xanadu creative team, headed by playwright Douglas Carter Beane and director Christopher Ashley, is clearly not a convention of dolts. Indeed, they have taken the movie's bare essentials and transformed them into a cute 85-minute spoof that works more effectively than all but the strongest believers might ever have hoped

#################################################################

The pair [Testa and Hoffman] proves to be true comic-relief figures, much as Cinderella's step-sisters are sight-and-sound gags in many versions of that fairy tale. (Strengthening the allusion, there's a moment when Sonny gloms on to one of Clio's roller skates, leaving Clio to flee with only one skate.) As for the always terrific Testa and the terrific-when-she-wants-to-be Hoffman, their broads-being-broad tandem act is a sight to behold and revel in.

#################################################################

Butler is pretty and properly silly as Clio -- often speaking with an Olivia Newton-John-affected Australian accent. Jackson, temporarily subbing for an injured James Carpinello, is an appealingly forthright Sonny. (Editor's Note: Jackson will be out of the show from July 17-27, due to a prior commitment. The role will be played by ensemble members Andre Ward and Curtis Holbrook during that period.) Tony Roberts, who never disappoints, is likeable as the gruff Danny Maguire, the disco's owner and Clio's former flame, as well as Clio's dad, the gruffer Zeus.

#################################################################

Xanadu may irk musical comedy lovers who wish the genre's current craftsmen would move forward rather then offering self-referential backward glances. And this piece ups the ante not only by mocking tired conventions of live musicals but celluloid ones as well. Beane even anticipates the criticism by giving Zeus a stentorian speech that goes in part, "The theater? They'll just take some stinkeroo movie or some songwriter's catalogue, throw it on a stage and call it a show." That's just what these dapper folks have done. And eureka! They've created a confection the actual Mount Olympus muses are likely smiling on this very minute

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/11110

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 11:09pm

I am so thrilled for the cast and crew! Go Kerry for finally getting her star part and the glowing reviews to go with it!! So happy for her!

[FutureAladdinOnB'Way]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 11:15pm

I'm so happy for Xanadu!
So that makes:
RAVE-3
Positive-4
Mixed-
Negative-1

[Princeton78]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 11:18pm

Hmmm...perhaps some award nominations for Kerry and or Mary and Jackie?

[Julian2]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 11:21pm

This season is going to be VERY crowded when it comes to Featured Actress in a Musical. And Hoffman and Testa are just the beggining.

Updated On: 7/10/07 at 11:21 PM

[Testing1232]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 11:22pm

Kerry has a nomination in the bag--- Mary and Jackie -- would LOVE both of them to be nominated, but too early to tell, obviously.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 11:23pm

Isn't it far too early to predict nominations? When this is the first musical to open this season.

And I feel bad for any lead actress that has to be up against Jenna Russell - who will without a doubt receive the same praise for SUNDAY that she did in London.

[FutureAladdinOnB'Way]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 12:00am

Sherie HAS to get her award this coming year for Featured Actress!!!

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 12:01am

I agree ljay. I can definitley see Jane Russel being nominated (and winning!).

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 12:06am

I am the king of making early predictions for awards, but even I think that this is too early. Especially in a season where you have Kerry, Jenna Russell, Kelli O'Hara (who also is due for a Tony), Faith Prince, Megan Mullaly, and Sutton Foster, not to mention Sierra Bogess for Little Mermaid, Laura Osnes in Grease, and whoever plays the female roles in Guys and Dolls. Way too soon to tell.
Updated On: 7/11/07 at 12:06 AM