Skylight Music Theatre's playful 'Xanadu' embraces silliness of the '80s-inspired musical
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When seen as a musical theater actor, Doug Clemons is nearly always saying or doing something fun onstage.
With Skylight Music Theater's new production of "Xanadu," we see that Clemons brings the same strange magic as a director.
Skylight's production embraces the good-natured silliness of this roller-skating, leg-warmer-wearing, inside-joking musical, which leans on '80s hits by Olivia Newton-John ("Magic") and ELO ("Evil Woman," "Strange Magic"). The musical is based on a 1980 movie starring Newton-John that flopped at the box office; writer Douglas Carter Beane reconfigured the story to create this stage romp.
An oversimplified synopsis: The Greek Muses descend to Earth to inspire discouraged Venice Beach artist Sonny (Mitchell Gray); the leading Muse, Clio (Kaitlin Feely), disguises herself as Kira, a roller skater with an Australian accent. Contrary to Muse rules, they fall in love, possibly aided by a curse from jealous Muse sister Melpomene (Molly Rhode) and her sidekick Calliope (Rhonda Rae Busch). Like all truly inspired artists, Sonny wants to open a roller disco, but he needs help from mogul Danny (Rick Richter), who has a past of his own with the immortal Clio.
Feely spends most of the show zipping around on roller skates, which in itself would earn my admiration.
In cartoon villain fashion, Rhode chews scenery with glee and a wink ("Xanadu" would make a good old-fashioned Saturday morning cartoon).
Stephanie Staszak choreographed the excellent dance numbers for the Muses, whose ranks also included Samantha Sostarich, Rachel Bednarowski, D. Eric Woolweber and Rashard (Rai) Hudson. Jason Orlenko designed the Muses' bright garb.
Music director David Bonofiglio leads a compact but active quartet of musicians.
If you go
Skylight Music Theatre performs "Xanadu" through Feb. 11 at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. For tickets, visit skylightmusictheatre.org/xanadu or call (414) 291-7800.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Skylight Music Theatre turns playful with '80s music in 'Xanadu'
