The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

Xanadu at the Southwark Playhouse

Xanadu at the Southwark Playhouse | Theatre review
30 October 2015
Harriet Clugston
Avatar
Harriet Clugston
30 October 2015

The Southwark Playhouse may not be the biggest of venues, but this production of Xanadu is larger than life. Based on the 1980s film flop starring Olivia Newton-John, Xanadu is a massively camp, laugh-out-loud musical comedy for all the family to enjoy.

Set at the peak of the 1980s, Samuel Edward plays Sonnie, a downcast artist from Venice Beach brooding over his latest creation, a colourful mural of a group of Greek muses who come to life in an attempt to inspire him to create the ultimate artwork: a roller disco, of all things. Head muse Clio (Carly Anderson) dons roller skates, leg-warmers and an unconvincing Australian accent to get close to Sonnie, in the hopes that if successful, Zeus will reward her with the legendary Xanadu – so legendary, in fact, that no one knows what it is. However, her cackling sisters hatch a jealous plan to trick Clio into falling in love with her mortal ward, one of the most unpardonable of sins in demigod law.

So much of Xanadu is annoying – the cheesy punch lines, the horrific accents, the collective overacting – but it’s acutely self-conscious. Writer Douglas Carter Beane employs razor-sharp wit, unafraid to poke fun at his own craft as well as the musical genre, his ludicrous plot soldiering on at a wicked, relentless pace. Xanadu is packed with inspired numbers, including adaptations of those known from the film alongside originals that embody laugh-a-minute comedy, with Newton-John’s 80s cult classic Physical thrown in for good measure. Impressively inventive choreography maintains the hilarity, with choreographer Nathan M Wright incorporating a range of props into his routines, which are pleasantly egalitarian and offer every member of the cast their share in the limelight. Although Xanadu enjoys knockout performances across the board, special mention is due to lead Carly Anderson, whose performance as Clio is expertly rendered; she’s a kitschy siren on wheels, knowingly droll and eccentrically captivating, holding the audience in the palm of her hand from start to finish.

Do not be perturbed by initial impressions. The premise will not appeal to everyone to be sure, and the early scenes will do little to alleviate these concerns. Xanadu begins in a bit of a hurry, the opening song a mad, shrill whirlwind that leaves its audience in a bit of a daze, but it soon finds its feet. Xanadu is a real crowd-pleaser, infectiously energetic and ferociously fun, a frenzy of postmodernism that will leave the delighted audience dancing in their seats.

★★★★★

Harriet Clugston

Xanadu is on at Southwark Playhouse from 16th October until 21st November, for further information or to book visit here.

Related Itemsreview

More in Theatre

Cruise – Online

★★★★★
Emma-Jane Betts
Read More

A Splinter of Ice at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre Online

★★★★★
Francis Nash
Read More

Distance Remaining – Online

★★★★★
Sophia Moss
Read More

Doppler: Grid Iron theatre company document the story so far

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More

Disenchanted Online

★★★★★
Regan Harle
Read More

Thick’n’Fast: General Secretary Online

★★★★★
Sylvia Unerman
Read More

Living Newspaper – Edition Three at the Royal Court Theatre Online

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More

Hysterical! The Hilarious History of Hystery at Theatre Royal Stratford East Online

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

Playfight at Finborough Theatre Online

★★★★★
Jonathan Marshall
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Harriet Clugston

Xanadu

★★★★★

Dates

16th October - 21st November 2015

Price

£18-£22

Links & directions

WebsiteMap

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • London’s best pizzas for takeaway and delivery
    Food & Drinks
  • The Year Earth Changed
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Steelers: The World’s First Gay and Inclusive Rugby Club
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • SYML – Dim | EP review
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • A Splinter of Ice at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • For the Sake of Vicious
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Mare of Easttown
    ★★★★★
    sky
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Mare of Easttown
    ★★★★★
    sky
  • Me You Madness
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • SYML – Dim | EP review
    ★★★★★
    Album review
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Guy Garvey – Courting the Squall | Album review
First Love Is the Revolution: An interview with Emily Burnett