No Thunderbolt of Talent in XANADU

In XANADU, the stern Zeus mightily proclaims, "The muses are in retreat!"

At the Hale Center Theater Orem in-the-round production of XANADU, the gods of Mount Olympus don't entirely shun yet they are a tad stingy with endowments of divine enlightenment.

The 2007 Broadway musical that ran for 500-plus performances makes smart, nonsensical fun of the so-bad-it's-great 1980 Olivia Newton-John film, and critics and crowds called it heaven on roller-disco-skating wheels. In XANADU, with the help of demi-goddess Clio and her all-powerful legwarmers, the cluelesly committed Sonny achieves his greatest dream: to open a roller disco.

At Hale Center, director Christopher Clark isn't at fault. He sets a quick pace and creates all the stage-posturing that the I'm-in-on-the-joke characters need. Innovative staging is seen, especially on the postage-stamp-size stage and the near-paper-thin budget. At what other XANADU have you seen stilt-walking and antigravity yoga moves? (And thanks for adding in a "Harry Potter" zinger. We were listening.) Clark knows the boundaries and isn't afraid to tippy-toe to The Edge. Also, Jennifer Hill-Barlow's swishy disco-era choreography excels with its hip gyrations. But über-campy on-stage talent from the show's lead players is mercilessly lacking.

Quite the opposite from the secondary players, where there is no slouching. As Clio's mischievously snarky sisters, Oyoyo Joi Bonner as Melpomene and Ali Bennett as Callipoe have fierce fun and impress with scenery-chewing abandon. They are aptly supported by Ames Bell as Terpsicore, Greg Knell as Thalia, Brittany Worley as Euterpe and Katie Harmon as Erato. Truth be told, Knell and Bell are, in three words, fab u lous and merit two snaps up, particularly for their gleeful commitment in front of Hale Center's reserved contingents. The ensemble dances are crisply executed, with nimble tap dancing by Bell, and the witty comedy from the six players is a highlight of the evening.

Darick J. Pead is a talented actor and his Adolofo at Hale Center's recent "Drowsy Chaperone" was a standout. Sonny is energetic and likable, but Pead misses much of the character's dim-bulb humor. Kate Bailey is cast as Kira. What should be a fanciful whimsy is as synthetic as her polyester toga. Shawn Lynn plays Danny, the real estate magnate.

XANADU isn't quite a Xanadon't, more of a Xannawannabe. It is a rare misstep. Audiences having the most fun at Hale Center production were the ones coming in knowing the script's wink-wink comedy. Others will be drawn into the energy of the wacky plot, and re-living the energizing songs-"I'm Alive," "Magic," "Evil Woman" and the title tune-is a large part of the production's escapist fun.

Hale Center Theater Orem presents XANADU through April 7. Directed by Christopher Clark with choreography by Jennifer Hill-Barlow and music direction by Koriann Orton Johnson. Book by Douglas Carter Beane; music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar; based on the Universal Pictures film screenplay by Richard Danus and Marc Rubel. 801-226-8600, www.haletheater.org

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