Musical Features Roller Skates

A new musical has been created that features cast members on roller skates.

Called Xanadu, the offering has been put together by Atlantis Productions and is being showcased in Manila.

Described as a comical story set to music, it is based on tunes from over two decades ago, providing theatre-goers with a blast from the past.

According to the Philippine Star, it is an "80s experience, complete with disco-crazed outfits, dances, big hair and yes, roller skates!"

Not all the actors and singers involved in the production took to roller skating easily, however.

Rachel Alejandro, who portrays the dual roles of Clio and Kira in the show, noted she has struggled to find her balance.

She said: "The biggest challenge here is the roller skating by far. I'm not as well-coordinated as some of you might imagine."

Meanwhile, her co-star Felix Rivera noted he too had to take lessons to master the technique and travelled to New York to get expert help from a man he described as the "Yoda of skating."

He noted: "This guy has been dancing and skating since the time of Gene Kelly."

The story in Xanadu revolves around Greek Muse Clio, who takes a trip from Mount Olympus to Venice California to inspire a struggling artist called Sonny, who refuses to surrender his dream of creating a roller disco.

Clio dons the disguise of Kira, an Australian roller girl, and the two become entangled in a forbidden love story.

Commenting on the appeal of the production, Alejandro said: "Although the setting is in the 80s, I think the songs in the musical, some of Olivia Newton-John's biggest hits, are timeless. People of any age will enjoy them and be able to sing along."

Roller skates are not uncommon on the musical theatre stage, with other big hits including the Andrew Lloyd Weber show Starlight Express.