‘Xanadu’ A Fun Summer Stage Party At Connecticut Rep

The show: “Xanadu” at Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s Nutmeg Summer Series on the UConn campus in Storrs.

What makes it special?: It’s on rollerskates, partly.

First impressions: This tongue-in-cheek 2007 musical fable based on a schlocky 1980 movie that starred Olivia Newton-John, Michael Beck and Gene Kelly could easily peter out as an overlong sketch. But it’s a surprisingly sustainable trifle, or at least nearly so, buoyed by ’80s-era tunes, bright and self-aware dialogue by Douglas Carter Beane and great slices of ham and cheese in the acting department.

So what’s the story?: Set in Venice Beach, Calif., a handsome, earnest and none-too-bright chalk muralist named Sonny (Luke Hamilton) is saved from artistic despair and possible suicide by the arrival of a beautiful muse named Clio (Amandina Altomare), who for mortal purposes calls herself Kira. She inspires Sonny to fulfill his artistic dream — creating a disco roller rink/arts center.

But first they have to get real estate mogul Danny Maguire (Dirk Lumbard) to let them take over one of his shuttered buildings and make a go of it.

He’s convinced by a chalk artist?: No, by Kira. It seems Maguire was inspired by a muse that bears a striking resemblance to Kira when he was younger, but instead he abandoned love for profit.

Just like Trump: Yeah, sure.

Sounds pretty inane: Have you seen the movie? Kira also travels with a gaggle of mythological sisters and in this group is a pair of jealous divas (Steve Hayes, Ariana Shore) who place a spell on Kira, making her fall in love with the mortal lug that they hope will evoke the wrath of Zeus (Lumbard, again).

That’s an Olympic stretch: It’s a cuckoo, wink-wink plot that doesn’t take itself seriously for one moment. It’s all enlivened by a three-piece band playing pop tunes by Electric Light Orchestra founding member Jeff Lynne and pop composer John Farrar (synth band songs such as “I’m Alive,” “Magic,” “Evil Woman,” “Strange Magic,” the inane “Have You Never Been Mellow,” and the title tune, among them).

That’s quite a songbook of kitch: And backed by a loopy ensemble that is somewhere between overworked summer stock and a Carnival Cruise chorus — and looking as if they were dressed from the Dollar Store. The deliberate tackiness is all part of the show’s low-rent style. As Hayes’ Calliope wisecracks: “This is like children’s theater for 40-year-old gay people.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Making it all work — kind of — is the sassy script by Beane (“The Little Dog Laughed”) who presents the theory that in the year 1980 American culture put on its brakes. (Tough to argue that.)

As for life in the theater, listen to Zeus: “They’ll just take some stinkeroo movie or some songwriter’s catalog, throw it on stage and call it a show.” Done, done and done.

Director Vincent Cardinal keeps things playful and swift. Hamilton plays dim smartly, sings beautifully and rolls with the punchlines. Hayes has a mug-fest in drag as Calliope and Aphrodite. Ditto for Shore. Altomare sings well but lacks a comic muse of her own. Also, her forced Australian accent gets tiresome fast, if not downright indecipherable.

Who will like it?: Fans of the’80s, ELO and disco roller rinks. And orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons.

Who won’t?: Those who’ve never been mellow.

For the kids?: They’ll enjoy the silliness and the skating. But you might have to explain to the kids what the cultural significance of leg warmers was.

Twitter review in 140 characters or less: You’ll forget the show as soon as you leave the theater but until then it’s a fun summer romp. Now let’s get some ice cream.

Thoughts on leaving the parking lot?: Look what “Mama Mia!” wrought. Take a song catalog, create a simple, silly plot and proudly, joyously embrace the music that we may disdain in public but sing along with when we’re alone in the car. Just don’t make it a habit.

The basics: “Xanadu” is presented at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre on the UConn campus in Storrs through July 19. The show is 90 minutes long without an intermission. Performances are Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $55. Information at 860-486-2113 and crt.uconn.edu.