Zanna, Don't

Synopsis

This award winning off-Broadway musical set in a world where to be homosexual is the norm and to be straight is unthinkable! All is well in Heartsville, the quarterback of the football team is starring in the school musical, everyone is excited about Mike's chess match until (gasp) a guy and a girl realise they have feelings for each other! Zanna, the school's magical matchmaker takes it upon himself to help, but all does not go exactly to plan! Zanna, Don't ! is one of those rare musicals that is catchy, funny, uplifting, but also has a strong message about love and tolerance that is vital in our ever evolving world.

Our Review:

24 June 2009

In Coleridge’s famous poem, the eponymous Kubla Khan decreed a stately pleasure dome in Xanadu. In the ‘musical fairytale’ Zanna, Don’t! however, now receiving its London premiere, this pleasure dome takes the form of a high school in Heartsville, USA. The title may be contrived but this off-Broadway show has a genuine spring in its step.

Its flavour could best be described as Godspell meets Avenue Q - with all the joyous youthfulness one might associate with those shows - plus a heavy dollop of Cinderella. The fairytale element is important, for there is no other way to account for a lead character who possesses a magic wand that can spread love and happiness. Okay, there might be another way (stop sniggering at the back) but fairytale is more acceptable and it also encompasses the main gist of the plot.

The production takes place in a world where to be gay is the norm and to be straight is freaky. With one neat de...

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Latest User Review

Iain - 9 July 2009:

Saw this show last Saturday and loved every moment. Dina - I do not have a clue what you are talking about and really don't think you do either. Spring Awakening has closed! The music was fantastic and the cast uniformly superb. My special mentions go again to Bonnie Hirst who made a sassy Roberta with a voice to kick the american version out of the water. Mikey Shearer (and his wand quite rightly Micky) made a Zanna for us all to fall in love with. I would also like to mention the actor who played Tank, his duet at the end with Mike Shearer was gorgeous and he had a voice to die for. The small space did not do the choreography justice and I too look forward to hopefully seeing it transfer! Well worth the journey down from Hertfordshire. A Zanna fan forever!...

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