Driven to Distraction

I have dreams and goals and stuff to do around the house. These are the things this week that kept me from getting to any of it.

Part 3, The Final Xanax-adu, This Time With Passion!

October 27, 2006

Page 1 | Page 2

dennishensley_xanadu3_320x240.jpgSo the big sing-along screening of Xanadu I’ve been blogging about was last weekend. As I’ve told you before, I was one of a troupe of 20 live dancers who performed in front of the screen during the big 40’s meets the 80’s showstopper “Dancin’.” I’m happy to report that our number was a big hit. I didn’t forget the steps, drop anyone or tumble into the orchestra pit. A friend told me afterwards that he’d never seen me look so happy as when I was dancing to ONJ in my purple suit with a bunch of kids half my age.

Perhaps we should have quit while we were ahead. We returned to the stage to do the Xanadu chant in the finale and though that was a bit of an under-rehearsed train wreck, it was fun to be able to shout the word “Xanadu!” over and over again in public. I do that quite often anyway, so it was a nice change to be in an environment where it was acceptable.

dennishensley_xanadu4_320x240.jpgBefore the screening there was a costume contest that watched from backstage and let’s just say, the kids were pretty creative. Along with your ‘Golden Goddess Kiras’ and ‘Short Shorts Sonnys’, there were some ‘Disgruntled Painters’ in blue smocks, a ‘Hot Dog Vendor’ in a tube top and a ‘Finale Cocktail Waitress,’ who flew in from Washington DC to be there. Her plexiglass tray was a bit cracked from the trip but her spirit was intact. I think she won a Dirty Dancing DVD.

While watching all this craziness unfold on the monitor from backstage, I got to wondering what was it about this film that spoke to these Xana-nuts all these years a later -- and make no mistake, I am a Xana-nut myself. It’s not a great movie. The story makes no sense and the happy ending arrives because a disembodied Zeus gets his words confused, a divine type-O, if you will.

Why can’t I live without it?

I’ve come to the conclusion that Xanadu lives on because in addition to catchy tunes and Olivia at her prettiest, it gives inspiration to all the dreamers out there who lack focus. It’s not like Rocky, where Sly Stallone wants to be a boxing champ, busts his ass and ends up a boxing champ. Michael Beck professes to want to be a serious ‘artist’ but he ends up opening a roller disco with Gene Kelly. Close enough.

So if you dream of more, but lack the talent, focus and wherewithal to make it happen, Xanadu is the movie for you. It’s a love letter to the undisciplined dreamers out there, like me. Long may it reign.

READ MORE > >

Comments

Mark wrote:

Thank You

abused fucked wrote:

The government should be persuaded to pay for all healthcare

footfetishporno wrote:

People should be allowed to go naked in certain recreational areas only

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)






Send to a Friend

E-mail this entry to:


Your email address:


Message (optional):



Dennis Hensley Blog Archive


Dennis Hensley's Blog

Author of "Screening Party" and "Misadventures in the (213)," Hensley shares his daily distractions here. He's also co-host of the radio show Twist and his website is at dennishensley.com

Confessions of a Corporate Lesbian

Penny loafers, a new wife, and a job in cable TV: being a lesbian ain't what it used to be.

Daniel Vosovic

Vosovic, a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and alum of "Project Runway," shares fashion tips and trivia.

Andy Cohen

Opinionated Bravo programming exec vents

Arjan Writes

On the pulse of what's hip and happening in music.

Jesse Brune

Getting Things Done

Trainer + Chef + Hottie = One busy boy.

Guest Blogger

An OUTzoneTV favorite, someone who is sexy, smart and can not only write a complete sentence or two, but can make us laugh, cry, and get angry.