Am I getting old?

I was looking at the NY Times on line (It's only a matter of time before they will be charging us for looking at their website! It's horrifying, and probably true. But that's another blog). I flipped over to the theater section and read the review for American Idiot, the new "Green Day" musical that just opened on The Broadway and is based on their album of the same name. As I read, I found myself rolling my eyes and "tsk tsk"-ing.

It got a rave from Charles Isherwood ensuring a healthy run but I must admit, whole thing seems so silly, doesn't it? All the photos and videos I've seen reveal a group of very young, very hip actors with piercings, tattoos and pre-determined bedhead jumping around in a very angry, disenfranchised way on what seems to be a very edgy, modernistic set dotted with flat screen tv's and lots of psychedelic lighting. It looks to me like a very fast moving, fast cutting MTV music video. (Is MTV still on? Do they still make music videos? Whatever happened to Martha Quinn and Nina Blackwood? Sigh... quietly sings, "video killed the radio star!")

At first glance it seems like a terrible idea. Who would be interested in a musical based on Green Day? It's rock music! Not Elvis or Frankie Valli or Buddy Holly. CONTEMPORARY ROCK MUSIC! I'm sure it's very loud and very in your face and probably expresses themes that would make our parents very uncomfortable!

But then I remembered going to see Hair in NYC over New Years weekend this past year. I LOVED IT! It was all about being yourself, standing up for what you believe, challenging the status quo, and it was all filtered through rock music and a non-linear story line before the musical Company came along and claimed the non-linear story line for itself. That show made our grandparents VERY uncomfortable. It brought up themes that no one wanted to deal with even though they were staring everyone in the face. Hair seems tame in comparison to American Idiot but is it really all that different?

I brought this up to Jamie the other day and he said, "Well, you are very conservative when it comes to musicals."

"What do you mean!?" I replied.

"You have very specific opinions about musicals and how they should be written and directed and all that. You're always saying how badly some of these new shows are written and constructed."

But, I don't want to be conservative! I don't want to be an old curmudgeon! I'm too young to be an old curmudgeon! I'm hip! I'm with it! For god's sake, I even voted democrat!!!!!

So, in the interest of NOT turning into a fuddy duddy, I am going to go see American Idiot when I go to NYC in early May. I may complain that it's too loud and I may tell anyone who'll listen that it's assaulting my eyes with it's multimedia extravaganza of color, light and video BUT, I will be there. And I will NOT be a curmudgeon!

XANADU!!!!! XANADU!!!!! NOW WE ARE HERE IN XANADU!!!!

James and I went to see the national tour of Xanadu:the Musical playing at the Music Hall at Fair Park through April 18th.

"What!?" Xanadu? The MUSICAL!? Wasn't that a really awful movie back in the early 80's starring Olivia Newton-John? Why, in God's name, would they make a stage musical of THAT!!!???"

Good question but not to fear! Book writer Douglas Carter Beane, Director Christopher Ashley and choreographer Dan Knechtges have retained the songs written by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar and opted for a tongue in cheek, wink, wink, nudge, nudge adaptation. Set in 1980 in Venice, California rather than 1580 in Venice, Italy, the muses, lead by Kira, come together to help mere mortal Sunny Malone realize his dream of owning a space where art, music, theater and dance can be created and performed. In other words, a roller disco! Conflict is introduced when the muses Melpomene and Coliope become, quite frankly, pissed off that Kira seems to be getting all of Zues's attention and they hatch a plan to thwart her plans to help Sonny achieve his dream. (The funniest line in the show is uttered by Coliope during a particularly evil moment: "This is fun! It's like doing children's theater for 40 year-old gay men!" BLACKOUT!!!)

The show is ultimately about holding onto your dreams and working to reach your goals in spite of the obstacles. the message is stated without seeming too earnest. In fact, you may find your self getting a little teary. The set echo's that of a roman temple and the muses wear togas, sandals and more body glitter than you can shake a stick at! And yes, there are roller skates!!! The entire production was conceived on an intimate scale for a cast of only 10 actors who do double and triple duty as muses, mythic monsters and fan dancers to name just a few.

Those of you who know James and me know that we can turn ANYTHING into an adventure and this show is no exception! Not content to just sit out in the audience and watch the show from afar, we opted for the ON STAGE SEATING!!! Yes! Xanadu has about 20 on stage seats that surround the main playing area in two semi-circular rows. We were told to "keep your hands inside the ride at all times and don't activate your glow sticks until the end of the show". (YES!!! They gave us glow sticks to brandish in the finale!) Thus prepared we settled in for a fun ride!

Indeed, Xanadu IS a lot of fun! The hard-working cast was excellent. They were all on stage most of the evening and the four person ensemble worked their mucho talented butts off singing and dancing almost non-stop. The jokes ranged from jabs at Greek mythology, tragedy and comedy to comments on current events. Nothing is sacred but at the same time nothing is taken seriously. The actors are clear that it's all a big joke and we are invited to be in on it.

BUT, the best part of the evening was getting to sit on stage. As a member of the Dallas Opera chorus I have been on stage many times at the Music Hall so for me that was nothing new. What was exciting was getting to see the performers and watch the show up close and personal. Something one NEVER gets to do at he Music Hall! We sat on the stage right side and all the actors' exits and entrances happened just inches from us. It was not unusual for them to make comments to us as they passed by. At one point, Kira grabbed on to my arm for dear life as Sonny tried to drag her to center stage by her be-skated foot!!!!

All told, Xanadu is an intimate, extremely funny show performed by freakishly talented cast. Run, don't walk to see it before it moves on to Sarasota, Florida!!! AND MAKE SURE YOU SIT ON STAGE!!!!