'Xanadu' spoof shines at Drury Lane
Many Chicago storefront theater companies have been celebrated for creating enjoyable low-budget stage spoofs of films and TV shows, ranging from The Annoyance Theatre's hit 1990s run of “The Real Live Brady Bunch” to The Neo-Futurists' summer festival of bad movies called “It Came From the Neo-Futurarium.”
But if you ever wondered how one of those bargain-basement parodies might play on a grander scale with professional actors and pricey-looking production values, then get ready to be dazzled by the glittery mega-mirrorballs of “Xanadu” at Drury Lane Theater in Oakbrook Terrace.
Previously seen in 2009 at the (now) Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place in Chicago in a production heavily based upon the critically acclaimed 2007 New York original, “Xanadu” now arrives at Drury Lane in a larger and handsomely homegrown production directed and choreographed by Rachel Rockwell.
Drury Lane's “Xanadu” differs from the previous production in a few keys ways: no onstage audience, an intermission has been added and the appearance of the mythological winged-horse Pegasus isn't as prominent as before (the ensemble's roller skating skills in the finale are also a tad wobblier).
But one thing that hasn't changed is the constant stream of laughs that “Xanadu” generates thanks to the campy script penned by Douglas Carter Beane (“The Little Dog Laughed,” “Lysistrata Jones”) that lovingly eviscerates the original screenplay by Richard Danus and Marc Rubel to the bizarre 1980 film musical that inspired all this inspired nonsense.
“Xanadu” concerns a hunky lunkhead named Sonny (Chris Critelli, a near doppelgänger for Broadway “Xanadu” and “30 Rock” star Cheyenne Jackson) who has an artistic dream to open a roller disco in Venice Beach, Calif. Sonny inadvertently summons the muses from ancient Greek mythology via a chalk mural, and they decide to help realize his dream when lead muse Clio (Gina Milo) goes undercover as an Australian roller skater named Kira.
But there's trouble in the form of ruthless real estate developer Danny (Gene Weygandt), who envisions condominiums in place of that much-dreamed-of roller disco. Also, Clio's jealous sister muses Melpomene (Christine Sherrill) and Calliope (Nancy Voigts) both plot for her downfall by prodding her to fall in love and creatively collaborate with Sonny — two things forbidden to Greek muses.
This weird clash of Greek mythology and 1980s disco prompts hilarious visuals throughout Drury Lane's “Xanadu.” Set designer Kevin Depinet has teamed closely with projections designer Mike Tutaj and lighting designer Jesse Klug for a flashy playing area filled with Ionic and color-changing LED lighted columns. Costume coordinator Erika Senase also has a field day gathering classically draped dresses and mythological creatures outfitted with outlandish New Wave gear.
Music director Roberta Duchak and conductor Ben Johnson drive the score along, which comprises musical hits by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar originally popularized by the Electric Light Orchestra and “Xanadu” film star Olivia Newton-John. The tight harmonies of the mythological ensemble of Stephanie Binetti, Sean Blake, Gary Carlson, Tammy Mader and supplementary pit singers Robin Childress and Jake Klinkhammer are also commendable.
Though “Xanadu” is yet another example of a movie-turned-musical with a pre-existing song catalog thrown in (something decried by many critics demanding original shows with new scores), the whole enterprise works like comic gangbusters because it never takes itself too seriously with so many self-aware jokes mocking the characters and the whole jukebox musical genre.
Once relegated by many to the dustbin of American pop culture, “Xanadu” has been given a revitalized redemption by way of a loving parody that definitely shines onstage. Given Chicagoans' love of stage spoofs over the years, Drury Lane's “Xanadu” should emerge as a comic hit.
“Xanadu”
★ ★ ★
<b>Location:</b> Drury Lane Theater, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. (630) 530-0111 or drurylaneoakbrook.com.
<b>Showtimes:</b> 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, 1:30 and 8 p.m. Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Friday, 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 28
<b>Running time:</b> Two hours with an intermission
<b>Tickets:</b> $35-$46; dinner theater packages available
<b>Parking:</b> Free adjacent garage
<b>Rating:</b> For general audiences