I am a bit worried about reviews. Does anyone know who the Times sent?
"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."
Conan O'Brien
They all seemed to enjoy it, but with hesitation. I think the critics will respond similarly, trashing the writers and creative team, but praising the cast for a fun night at the theater.
...which, unfortunately, they couldn't do for Legally Blonde. I mean, I could tell the reviewers liked it in spite of themselves. Why all the hate, yet all the love for Xanadu? Ugh, I will never know.
It's just a message board. Let's not take it too seriously.
No matter how bad the reviews are for Xanadu, one thing to keep in perspective:
They set out to make it intentionally bad.
Born To Reign - because there are problems in Legally Blonde. There are problems in Xanadu, but I seem to think the creatives set out to create them.
Updated On: 7/10/07 at 06:44 PM
"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D
"If one must adapt the stupendously awful Olivia Newton John movie “Xanadu” for the stage, and it's hard to imagine why anyone would want to, it's at least in the right hands. Douglas Carter Beane's book is a perfectly-pitched parody in Christopher Ashley's infectiously campy production featuring some of the year's most comically inspired performances.
And while it's awfully light fare for Broadway, considering the amount of laughs you get per dollar spent, it's a comedy bargain.
“Xanadu” may be a lot of fun, but that doesn't make it great theatre, more of a guilty summertime pleasure. I still question the wisdom of doing this, but it does prove that, given the right talents, anything can fly on Broadway."
“Xanadu” may be a lot of fun, but that doesn't make it great theatre, more of a guilty summertime pleasure. I still question the wisdom of doing this, but it does prove that, given the right talents, anything can fly on Broadway.
This quote might sum up this whole event PERFECTLY. Updated On: 7/10/07 at 07:04 PM
"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."
Conan O'Brien
Why do they ALL insist on mentioning the "horrible crime" that is the movie?! Just write about the show for gosh sake's! The two shouldn't even be compared.
"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck
It's kind of hard not to mention the movie when it was the spring board for the concept. It's like not mentioning the documentary Grey Gardens or the Wendekind play Spring Awakening. It's kinda necessary. Plus the critics seem to be saying "Don't be fooled by the badness of the movie. The show is good." What's wrong with that?
The comparisons with Reese Witherspoon were expected...especially after seeing Laura Bundy's performance, which paled in comparison. Butler's performance was as good, if not better, than Newton-John's.
Nothing is wrong with mentioning it, but I think most of the populus gets the point. Anyway, if people are reminded of the beyond horrible movie, they might think the concept is beyond repairing. (That's what I thought at first)
"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck
'Whatever the show's future, Beane and the young producing team of Broadway neophytes have made it a guilt-free pleasure to visit "a place where nobody dared to go."'
Woo hoo! A rave!
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
"Anyway, if people are reminded of the beyond horrible movie, they might think the concept is beyond repairing. (That's what I thought at first)"
Katurian, that's exactly why the critics ARE mentioning it. People are being reminded of the horrible movie just from the title of the show, so the critics are saying that the concept is not only beyond repair, but pretty good. They don't want people to be left assuming that it's just the wretched movie on stage.
"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."
Conan O'Brien