"Xanadu"- "Awfully" Entertaining !!!!- MINOR Spoilers---

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/16/07 at 11:44pm

Ok, so just got home after seeing "Xanadu"--

So, how do you mock a show that is going out of its way to be bad? You cant.

How do you take a horrific movie and make a good Broadway musical out of it? I mean, the entire plot is utterly ridiculous!!

Once again... you cant !!

So, what do you do? You take a very good cast- (Btw, Curtis Holbrook was Sonny, and he was very good !!) I really dont understand the need to bring in Jackson for this role. To me, Sonny is supposed to be a poor schnook--- Jackson, IMHO, will be miscast here.

Kerry Butler is adorable, and has a beautiful voice (I can stare at her on stage all night !!!)

However, the reason to see "Xanadu" is for Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa !!! "Evil Woman" was one of the funniest things I have seen on Broadway !!!

(and the "Les Miz" line was one of the funniest lines I have ever heard on Broadway!)

So, basically, if you want your brain to be challenged, see something else.

If you want to go into a threatre totally brain-dead, go see "Xanadu" and laugh your a** off !!!

The show WILL find an audience... the theater was packed tonight, and the crowd went nuts after every song--- I heard numerous people say it was their 7-10th time already. Its gonna develop a little cult following and be around for a while.

[Up In Lost]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 12:15am

I was there tonight too. For the third time. I missed the tap dance that Curtis does as young Danny, but he was pretty good as Sonny. I also agree about Jackson being miscast in this.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 1:13am

I saw the matinee today, and I said the same thing about Cheyenne. Really cannot imagine him as Sonny. Curtis did a great job.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 1:37am

I saw the 8 pm 6/16/2007 performance too. I liked Curtis Holbrook but I almost didn't recognize him from his ASU days. He looks like he lost a lot of weight! Curtis did a good job, but I would still like to hear Cheyenne sing Sonny's songs.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 1:46am

Is that you in your avatar, Testing?

[perfectliar]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 2:29am

Damn! I love Curtis, and I wish I could see him as Sonny!

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 2:52am

So what was this Les Mis line? I'm awfully curious now.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 2:59am

You guys should wait to see Cheyenne before you judge his performance, anyways, glad you loved the show!!! I can't wait to see it for myself.

[DirectorGP]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 7:57am

The show is WONDERFUL...I will see it again with CJ but would love to see Curtis as well... Hmmm guess I will have to try to do that too. The whole cast is great...LOVE THIS SHOW!

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 8:02am

Uh, no B3... thats my daughter-- 15 mos.

As far as judging Cheyenne's performance, I dont think that anyone is doing that. If Elaine Stritch was cast as Belle, I think people might think it was a bad idea before seeing her :/

I just dont think he fits as Sonny.

Cheyenne is far from the nebbish type that I think you need as Sonny. And Curtis is VERY good. The more I think of the show, the more I like him.

[lisaspo]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 9:27am

As much as I really like Cheyenne Jackson, I was having a little bit of a hard time seeing him in the part, too... he's just *too* good looking and seems much more of a traditional leading man type. But, after seeing him in "It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman" the other day, I can't wait... he did a great dorky Clark Kent and I think his Sonny will be hysterical.

[Curtains07]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 9:33am

Cheyenne will be amazing!
Updated On: 6/17/07 at 09:33 AM

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 9:55am

Well, we will definitely be seeing the show again with CJ.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 9:58am

<< So what was this Les Mis line? I'm awfully curious now>>

SPOILER BELOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





























Just as the show was ready to end, 80-85 minutes in, they made a comment about the show being brief, and that the first barricade was just coming down across the street !!! It was hysterical !!!!

[queenbee2]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 10:18am

That's very funny. Les Miz probably still has almost 2 hours to go when Xanadu is coming down!

This show is interesting in the way that it seems some people really love it and some people really don't. The contrast in opinions has intrigued me enough to go buy a ticket now. Which I had no intent on doing when I heard it was coming to Broadway. I'm going to try to catch it next week.

-QB

[singingbackup]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 12:13pm

One of the great things about this show is what was said earlier in this thread....the "crowd went nuts after every song" What a great thing for any show to have! Say what you will about it being crap or not, if it makes people happy while they are there and after they leave, then they have done their job and help keep live theater lively!


Damn I wish I could come back and see it again. Weeeeeeee!

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 12:17pm

Seeing it this afternoon. I'm really anxious and excited for it!

[Livewire413]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 2:28pm

Well I hope the show makes it for little while anyways because I'm really intrigued. Glad people are enjoying it though. I think they key here is to not go in expecting something brilliant and just be open to having a good time.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 2:36pm

No joke---- we were cracking up at the pure stupidity of the entire thing, and Kerry Butler does such a job of playing it up !

Its just enjoyable in a sick sort of way---- all I kept thinking about is when I was younger, and we used to go to the "Lazer Rock" show at what was then, the Hayden Planetarium.

We used to go "unwind" every Friday night after a week of school. Now its unwinding after a day (or week) of work.

Not have to think sometimes is a really great remedy for life !

SPOILER BELOW:











The Andrew Lloyd Webber line was hysterical as well !!!!

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 6:17pm

It was really entertaining and Curtis was great! The house was basically packed. Updated On: 6/17/07 at 06:17 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 6:40pm

Hey All-

6:33 pm..I just saw XANADU- today 6/17 Sunday 3 pm matinee... I will write my Xanadu experience (which is not a review bec. I am not a critic) when I go back to Boston tommorow.. I will take a nap now- so I can be "fab" tonite for the Broadway Bares Show..All I can say is I LOVE THE SHOW and yes-- I will defend as to why I like the show in Jaystarr's 10/10 Take on Xanadu (with pics , definitely !! ) --Curtis Holbook stepped in as Sonny Malone this afternoon. He was really " good" ...

I met the cast after the show.. yes- I will post my pics with Kerry Butler, Curtis Holbrook & Mary Testa (still in my camera right now )

BTW- I spoke to Curtis and I asked him as to when Xanadu will open. He told me .. they just pushed it two weeks from opening date.. which is I guess second week of July and Cheyenne will open the show as Sonny Malone ( he starts rehearsall tommorrow with the entire cast)

I also got my XANADU t-shirt( I wore it on the pics) and of course I held a XANADU playbill with my photo ops. Did you guys
know that some of the cast members of Xanadu actually read this posting that we post.=)

obsessedjb- Did you see the Sunday 6/17 matinee too? and did you see me there wearing my XANADU shirt?? I was glad that you like it! Its very over the top...

J*




Updated On: 6/17/07 at 06:40 PM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 6:46pm

Can't wait to see your pix!

[NJgirl]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 6:48pm

I was there last night. I had SUCH a fun time and laughed so much. The audience went crazy as soon as the opening notes of some of the songs started. Heck, even the disco ball appearing got a round of applause. The show isn't a train wreck..it's 90 mins of comedy and camp and fun. I loved Curtis as Sonny and can't picture Cheyenne in the role yet..but I will definitely go back to see it with him. I also want to see Curtis' tap number.
Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman were wonderful and the audience loved them.

I will definitely be back to see it again!

btw- I loved the jokes about juke box musicals! Got quite the round of applause last night.

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 6:53pm

Yup I was at the matinee today (6.17) I think I did see you. I'm going back next week to see Cheyenne.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 7:02pm

Damn ! I wanted to see it with Cheyenne too.. but my hubby dont want to do repeat of Xanadu anymore.. He really never told me if he like it or not -yet- though he was wide awake the entire show
and laughing...I am dying to see Curtis Holbrook in the muse /young Danny role that Marty did today . Have you noticed he did not do the "tap dance" in Whenever youre away number??

I did not realize that Curtis is a very short guy and very little.Considering I'm 5'9 and 141 lbs but yet he is still smaller than me (youll see the pics) he looks so tall on stage.
Oopps .. I better not say anything bec. he told me that he read some "hurtful things" here... (Poor Curtis..but we love him ! I did told him that !!- he was probbaably talking about the show-that there were hurtful things that was said..ouch !!) and Kerry is soo tiny in person..and next to me but very cutie !! Mary Testa-(that's a 1 page report) I will be saving that with my 10likes/10dislikes ..

J*



Updated On: 6/17/07 at 07:02 PM