Get us in your inbox

Search

Xanadu

  • Theatre, Musicals
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Xanadu, Southwark Playhouse
Advertising

Time Out says

3 out of 5 stars

Quite possibly the campest thing that has ever happened

It was, for those involved, a tragedy of ancient Greek proportions. The 1980 movie musical ‘Xanadu’ - conceived as a surefire hit for Olivia Newton-John and instrumentalist/composer John Farrar, the man behind many of the top tunes from ‘Grease’ - was a flop so epic it spawned the first ever Razzie Award for worst director.

But then, decades later, the Gods smiled on this silly, bubblegum tale about an immortal Muse who descends on Venice Beach to help a mediocre street-artist achieve his dream of realising the greatest of all art-forms… a roller disco. A theatrical team got behind it, and turned the turkey of a film into a stage musical that, in 2007, became a surprise Broadway success.

So now, here it is in London, in a new production that bears the hallmarks of Southwark Playhouse’s usual quality musical efforts: high production values, top-notch musicians and a hardworking cast (any performer who can sing, dance, act and roller-skate deserves my respect - and quite possibly a stiff drink).

The show knowingly pokes fun at the film’s naffness: much (everything, really) about ‘Xanadu’ is naff, from the legwarmers and sweatbands to the intentionally terrible Australian accent adopted by the Muse, Kira/Clio (the excellent Carly Anderson). It won’t be to everybody’s taste, and wasn’t really to mine - an ironic awareness of naffness doesn’t, after all, take that naffness away, and the musical score is uneven. But for those willing to get on board with its arch campness and so-bad-it’s-good intentions, it’s a great deal of fun.

Written by
Laura Barnett

Details

Address:
Price:
Oct 16-21 £12, Oct 22-Nov 21 £22, concs £18
Opening hours:
Oct 16, 17, 19-23, 24, 26-31, Nov 2, 4-7, 9-14, 16-21, 7.30pm, mat Oct 17, 24, 31, Nov 7, 14, 21, 3pm
Advertising
You may also like
You may also like
Bestselling Time Out offers