spotlight
movies came out that had the roller-disco theme already. While in production,
they changed their minds and decided to make it this fantastical, funky fairytale.
So I think it just went down the wrong path. It’s one of those things that really is
kind of bad, but that’s why people love it. It’s sort of fun to love things that aren’t
quite right.”
Despite the film’s infamous reputation, virtually everyone who has seen the
stage adaptation has had nothing but love for it.
“Well, the book is so much more developed,” asserted Stanley. “There actually is
a storyline to follow. And in the movie, you really don’t have that. It’s really just this
frustrated artist and this pretty roller skater who’s a goddess, but that’s not really
clear. They end up together, kind of, and then there’s this random old guy who
plays the clarinet.
Also, they did a great job—in the developing of the musical—of winking at
the movie. Because I wouldn’t say that they’re out-and-out making fun of it. They
certainly have a fondness for the music in the movie, if not the movie itself.”
Droll reverence—definitely a fine line to walk. Of course true Xanadusians
know that there are a couple of songs that weren’t in the original film, but were
added to the stage production’s score. Stanley lends her speculation as to why
those particular Electric Light Orchestra songs were chosen.
“In the movie, Kira’s sisters, the other muses, are not really present,” explained
Stanley. “They’re in-scene but you don’t really know who they are, they don’t have
any lines; whereas in the musical production, they’re part of the plot. And the two
sisters who sing ‘Evil Woman’ are the antagonists. It’s only natural that they would
have a song.”
Thinking back to the movie, I couldn’t help but imagine how hard it might be
to recreate this story onstage—with the 1970s magic and all of its disco-inspired
special effects alone. But the whole cartoon sequence… I had to ask how
Xanadu’s Elizabeth Stanley (as Kira)
they did it.
“Well, (laughter) we’re not becoming cartoons, sadly,” Stanley quipped. “It’s one
of my favorite parts of the movie. When I was watching it, I was like, ‘WHAT? Oh
Xanadu muses
my God!’ I don’t think there’s really any way for us to capture that brilliance, but
hopefully people will enjoy other moments so they won’t miss it too much.”
The role of Kira carries such 80s symbolism, surely Stanley has met the woman
after whom her character was modeled.
“I have not, actually. I would really like to. I mean, I love Olivia Newton-John. I’d
love to meet her. I don’t know if that’s in her plans or not, but I know she went and
saw the Broadway production so that’s probably enough for her (Laughter).
I’ve worked with Cheyenne [Jackson]. Shortly after Xanadu had opened he
already had an agreement to do a production of a new show that I was a part of.
We became good friends at that time and he was really helpful. I said, ‘Cheyenne!
Will you read my lines with me and can you give me any pointers?’ And he’s just
the loveliest guy. He came to my dressing room at the time I was doing Cry-Baby
and we read through. So that was nice. Also, after I found out that I had been cast
[in Xanadu], I did a reading and Kerry Butler was in it and I remember speaking
with her. She as well was one of the kindest people. I remember asking her, ‘Are
you getting tired of doing the role?’ She had been doing it now for over a year and
she said, ‘Oh my God, no! It’s so much fun. I can never relax. It’s one of the hardest
things ever because I’m constantly thinking about the skating, I’m thinking about
the accent…it’s not a role to get bored in.’ That was nice to hear. She was just here
in La Jolla in a benefit last week. She was saying, ‘I really thought every night I was
going to get fired or that I’d come home and they’d call and say I didn’t need to
come back tomorrow.’ It is a challenge and I was sort of feeling that way and so I
thought, ‘Oh good! It’s not just me!’ (Laughter)”
Clearly the play’s ever-present legacy of inspiration is in the best possible hands.
So grab your glittered skates, rayon headbands and polyester short-shorts. Revisit
the rockin’ fantasy of Xanadu in San Diego now until December 31st.
44 RAGE monthly | DECEMBER 2008
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