I thought I'd pick something rainbow or candy-colored for my review of Xanadu but then I came across this image called Disk-Oh! and thought it would work.  I mean really!  What better for a movie about creating a roller disco than an image like this one?  True, the colors are hardly perfect (they don't go with the show's candy-colored palette) but I still think it makes sense in so many other ways. (You'll see why as I go along.) That being said--on with the review!

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Xanadu has an interesting history: based on the 1947 movie musical Down To Earth (starring Rita Hayworth) and Gene Kelly. It was re-made (as Xanadu) in 1980 (starring Olivia Newton-John, Michael Beck and Gene Kelly (who reprised his role from the original). The plot was meandering (at best), the acting was wooden (to be kind) and the costumes were just silly (even by the standards of the day). I can only assume copious amounts of cocaine were consumed during the entire production process. Paradoxically, the movie spawned several hits for Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra that have become "classic" pop ditties. In 2007 Producers got the bright idea to turn it into a live show.
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The staged version of Xanadu has proven to be surprisingly successfiul: they kept most of the music from the movie (the best part of source material) and even the silly plot. The re-write was done thoroughly tongue-in-cheek and the actors were given free reign to camp it up to their hearts desire. They also kept the show short (barely an hour and a half) so the audience never really got to the chance to realize how slight everything really was. The set was kept simple yet effective, the costumes cute (and silly as the looks from the movie) and the effects were minimal yet in keeping with the whole feel of the production. The five-member band doesn't quite manage to duplicate the "ELO" sound but they were plenty effective.
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In the end, what viewers got was the stage musical equivelant of cotton candy-- no substance but none-too-substantial. No audience member is going to walk away from Xanadu with an emotional catharsis or feeling that some great emotional truth has been exposed in a new way. What you get is an hour-an-a-half of pure, unadulterated FUN that is suitable for small kids and grannies alike. It is a safe and pleasing (if very light) entertainment. And really--when you think of it--what's wrong with that?
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'nuff said.