Reviewed by Jessica Neu

Dust off your roller skates, leg warmers, and ribbon dancers and glide over to the Allegheny RiverTrail Park for Riverfront Theater Company’s production of the cult classic Xanadu. Running through August 6th, the cast of young performers transports us back to 1980 and convincingly portrays an era of big hair, glam rock, and tenacious hope, despite none even being born in the 80s.

Xanadu tells the story of Sonny Malone (Max Milligan), a depressed artist who paints murals at the Santa Monica pier. As he contemplates suicide, he is greeted by Kira/Clio (Anna Balich), a Greek demi-God brought to life from Malone’s mural, and she prevents his attempt at self-harm. Together, the pair sets off to restore an abandoned theater, the Xanadu, as Sonny dreams of reinventing the theater into the first ever roller disco. Their adventure takes audience members on a ride from California to Mt. Olympus packed with quirky songs, Greek Gods and Goddesses, bright colors, hilarious one-liners, witty puns, and, of course, roller skates.

What stands out more than any power ballad or Grecian dress in this production is the raw talent of these incredible young performers. I have had the pleasure of seeing Milligan in Shaler High School’s spring production of Newsies, and his talent shines even brighter as the lead male character, Malone. His impeccable timing and pitch paired beautifully with Balich’s portrayal of Kira/Clio. Balich’s vocal prowess and Australian accent would surely make Olivia Newton-John proud, and she is sure to have a bright future at Point Park University. Fox Chapel High School alum Tyler Drum plays Danny Maguire, the aging businessman who built the Xanadu theater. His character acting provides a revelry and dynamic to the show that some professional actors cannot execute. Some of the supporting characters are portrayed by two different actors, with a Sydney Cast performing Wednesday and Friday and a Venice Cast performing Thursday and Saturday. Two rotating cast members featured in the Sydney Cast, Liv Rocco, who plays Melpomene, and Mia Damico, who plays Calliope, both hail from Woodland Hills High School, where they have previously performed together. Their chemistry is evident as they portray sisters with sass, spunk, and an attitude stronger than a bottle of Aqua Net. Their harmonies were astounding, and I simply cannot wait to see them in future productions. Never breaking character as a train whizzed by at the beginning of the second act, I felt as if I was watching a group of seasoned, veteran actors.

 Ultimately, these talented young actors leave us with a sense of hope for the future, not simply because of their multi-faceted abilities but because of how they deliver Xanadu’s message. As the show concludes, the cast collectively delivers the show’s theme: the most important thing we can do in life is to love one another and create art. We must love one another regardless of who we are, where we are from, or how we appear. Love can penetrate even the thickest of leg warmers, and that feeling cannot be denied.

At the end of Act 2, one of the Greek Goddesses urges Zeus to recognize the evidence that stands before him and not to lead with feeling or emotion – how eerily timely yet timeless of a line written back in 1980. 

Xanadu the musical is one not to be missed based on talent alone. Still, Xanadu as a place becomes a metaphor – a safe space that can exist anywhere in which people can unite together, enjoy art, each other, and love freely. Maybe we all need a bit more Xanadu in our lives.

For tickets visit: https://www.riverfronttheaterco.org/tickets

Categories: Reviews

Tags: Liv Rocco, Max Milligan, Mia Damico, Riverfront Theater Company, Tyler Drum, Xanadau