By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com
photo by Mark Kitaoka and Tracy Martin
Dane Stokinger (center) and company are good skates in ""Xanadu."
What makes “Xanadu” so much fun is that it makes no sense whatsoever. The show everyone loves that is based on a movie no one liked just bubbles all over you like a crazy champagne fountain.
Arizona Theatre Company’s production is particularly frothy, and full of more bright colors than a confetti factory. ATC’s own David Ira Goldstein is the director. Everyone in the lobby at intermission was piling on the metaphors trying to describe their experience.
Think of sprightly imagination being stretched like saltwater taffy (see what I mean). And as every rock star knows, if you pour enough energy into any performance, absolutely no substance is necessary.
“Xanadu” is built on this foundation. With total abandon, take a lot of crazy stuff and keep throwing it all over the stage. Or think of “Xanadu” as what happens when you take disco roller skate culture and toss it into a blender with Greek mythology.
There will surely be lots of swirling bed sheet costumes and roller skate wheels.
OK, ladies, this is even easier. Think of “Xanadu” as a good entry-level opportunity for getting those husbands involved who don’t think much of theater as a substitute for Monday Night Football…on any night of the week.
These guys never have to worry about understanding what is happening on stage because nobody else knows what’s happening on stage, either.
We know from reading the press release and a couple of other things online that this hyperactive musical begins when the Greek muse Clio leaves Mount Olympus to take human form and call herself Kira (Jennifer Skerritt) so she can visit Earth to improve the prospects of optimistic Sonny (Dane Stokinger) the Venice Beach skater and artist.
Sonny dreams of building a roller rink just for disco. Well, why not? That’s what he did in the 1980 movie starring Olivia Newton-John as Clio/Kira. Michael Beck played Sonny.
Gene Kelly, close to 70 years old, played the villain Danny and the omnipotent Zeus. ATC favorite Jeff Steitzer takes over that role here and (it seems like) doesn’t have to skate.
Skerritt and Stokinger, a real life husband-wife team, handle all the heavy skating with a light-hearted confidence that enhances their performance. Since this is a co-production with the Seattle area Village Theatre, the cast arrived in Tucson already fine-tuned from doing the show there.
There is also lots of music from the disco period, including “Magic,” “I’m Alive,” “Evil Woman” and that title track, “Xanadu.”
Several references are made to Kira’s Australian accent (wink-wink) and the failure of a certain movie in which Newton-John the Australian was the star.
But seeing the movie, in this case, could also be a disadvantage since it was such a total flop. Enjoying this very broad production of the Broadway hit is not only easier, it is heartily encouraged. And don’t forget about the big balloon drop at the end.
“Xanadu” continues through Dec. 21 with performances at various times Tuesdays through Sundays in the downtown Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. Tickets are $32-$72. For details and reservations, 622-2823, www.arizonatheatre.org
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