The Seven Muses in Metropolis Performing Arts Centre’s “Xanadu”/Photo: Jennifer Heim
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The history of “Xanadu” is a checkered one. The 1980 fantasy film was panned by critics, flopped at the box office and is blamed for ending the budding movie career of Olivia Newton-John. Despite a resurgence on Broadway in 2007, playing 500 performances, one would expect it to melt into cult obscurity like “Can’t Stop the Music” and “Shock Treatment.”
Metropolis Performing Arts breathes new life into “Xanadu” with their production directed by Kevin Wiczer, with choreography by Kristine Burdi and musical direction by Kenny McMullen. A live band sits between broken Ionic columns and under the ostentatious Xanadu logo. Awash in neon lights of turquoise and magenta, this “Xanadu” certainly looks the part of a retro-1980s rock concert, but what sets it apart from the film version?
Simple, they’re not taking it too seriously; or, rather, they take “not taking it too seriously” seriously. Every plot hole is filled with a deus ex machina, a lazy device, but less so when performed by actual dei. And they know it, too, breaking the fourth wall with winks and nods to the audience, with postfaces after monologues like “Who am I talking to?” and “I said out loud.” It’s campy, corny and ridiculous; but the cast leans into it hard, turning the joke around and using it to their advantage.
The show features seven muses from Greek mythology, who apathetically toy with the lives of mortals, inspiring them in the ways of art—music, poetry, comedy, dance—then disappear, leaving their human charges confused and downtrodden.
The muses are: Clio (Sophia Mae Brenner) sings with god-like vocal chops; Euterpe (Kayla Joyner) and Erato (Morgan Schoenecker) are long-haired vixens who do a good imitation of The Andrews Sisters; Thalia (J. Christian Hill) performs one of the cleanest tap dances I’ve seen in Chicago musical theater this year; Terpsicore (Kyle Patrick) is played to bitchy perfection with a chiseled body that puts the ancient statues to shame; finally, Melpomene (Elenia Dokos) and Calliope (Joey Prette) attempt to sabotage their sister Clio’s plans on Earth à la the evil stepsisters from “Cinderella.”
Ty Schirmer (Sonny) receives inspiration from the Muses/Photo: Jennifer Heim
The story focuses on Clio and her infatuation with mortal Sonny (Ty Schirmer), a graffiti artist suffering from “painter’s block,” until Clio—disguising herself as “Kira” with an Australian accent, a nod to Newton-John—leaps out of his painting, inspiring in him a rush of confidence and creativity. Based on a premonition by Clio/Kira, they convince landlord Danny Maguire (Tony Calzaretta) to lease them the decrepit Xanadu theater, stipulating that they have one day to renovate and make it manageable; but Danny, still reeling from the loss of his muse years ago, teams up with Melpomene and Calliope to make the impossible task even more unachievable.
There’s a lot to enjoy. The compilation of soft-rock hits will please both Boomers and their Millennial children who grew up listening to 93.9 LITE FM while on the way to soccer practice. Roller-skate dancing is smooth and satisfying. The chemistry between Sonny and Clio/Kira is organic and heartwarming. With no intermission, the ninety-minute show moves quickly and with high energy up until the end.
In a world where every news broadcast stokes fear and anxiety, why not take a break from the seriousness? Metropolis Performing Arts’ “Xanadu” gives you that opportunity to revel in absurdity and get in on the joke (and the fun!).
“Xanadu,” presented by Metropolis Performing Arts, runs through August 13 at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 West Campbell, Arlington Heights. Tickets are $45 and are available at metropolisarts.com.
