Xanadu Weekends

Reminiscent of the small pox plague that exterminated most of the Massachusetts natives making way for our alpha-dog European descendants, Xanadu fever hit the house last weekend. “Xanadu, your neon lights will shine for you, Xanadu / The love, the echoes of long ago / you needed the world to know.”

It all started with a glimpse at a website advertising Xanadu on Broadway, http://www.xanaduonbroadway.com/. Upon entering the site you are first met with a dazzling pink background with rainbows crisscrossing top to bottom. First an energetic thunka-thunka beat starts to play over the speakers. “Where am I?” you ask, evocatively awakening happy fantasies of gay dance-club shirtless decathlons. Then while your heart patters to the beat, you suddenly see Pegasus, leader of unicorn planet take wing and soar across the screen. Finally a flash movie starts to play, showcasing the Broadway stars of Xanadu asking, “Where’s the place where all my dreams will come true?” And answering, “I grant you a Roller-disco!” After seeing such a thing, my housemates felt like we had to see the 1980’s original epic musical adventure, Xanadu featuring Olivia Newton-John, and Gene Kelly. Given the circumstances, you would be inspired to do the same thing…

While the 2008 Broadway show sits in New York collecting rave reviews, the 80’s movie will arduously stay present in history, forever tarnishing the warmth of our modern Xanadu love. While the musical numbers of the movie are interesting to say the least, the plot is horribly constructed while being equally dreadfully acted. Needn’t we forget the ever popular idiom , “Xanadon’t” It’s best not to watch the film. Rather just watch YouTube clips of the famed musical numbers. I tell you this; the all inclusive excitement you feel during the full length feature never achieves the exhilaration you get from the internet site.