For proof positive that a movie can have a wildly gay sensibility in the absence of any gay characters or subject matter, look no further than Xanadu. This 1980 concoction, about a beautiful Greek muse who comes down to earth and inspires a young artist to build a roller disco, is justly regarded as one of the worst films ever made, terrible in an almost entirely unwatchable way rather than in a so-awful-it's fun way. But the new Broadway musical of the same title mines comic gold from this dross; it's a merciless, over-the-top spoof of the original, and the unlikeliest — and, yes, gayest — Broadway hit in years.

The architect of this laugh-a-minute entertainment is Douglas Carter Beane, whose previous credits range from the drag queen flick To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar to the incisive stage plays The Little Dog Laughed and As Bees in Honey Drown.

In these and other works, Beane has demonstrated enormous talent as a comedic writer, so it shouldn't come as too big a surprise that his adaptation of Xanadu is a triumph; he has retained all of the elements of the screenplay that are ripe for parody, thrown out the dreck, and added just enough new situations and plot points to insure that the show won't wear out its welcome during its uninterrupted running time of 90 minutes.

Expertly directed by Christopher Ashley, Xanadu is the funniest Broadway show since The Producers. Everyone involved has certainly followed that monster hit musical's advice to “Keep it Gay,” and the result is fabulous beyond belief.

The moment you enter the Helen Hayes Theatre and behold David Gallo's witty Greek ruin of a set, with a few dozen audience members seated on stage in bleachers as a huge, circular mirror reflects the humpy artist Sonny at work in a tank top and cutoffs, you'll have a good idea what you're in for. And when the muses enter, and two of these “sisters” happen to be men, there'll be no doubt in your mind that this show will be pushing the gay envelope to unprecedented heights of hilarity.

Hunky Cheyenne Jackson is perfect as Sonny, an artist so dim that he paints “murals” on the ground and can only grin mindlessly as jokes and cultural references fly over his head. Jackson plays his stupidity in a wonderfully endearing way, and the actor's strong, sexy, wide-ranging voice is a marvel in such songs as “Suddenly,” “Strange Magic,” and “Don't Walk Away.”

This amazingly versatile actor appeared in workshops of Xanadu with Jane Krakowski; he had opted out of the Broadway production due to scheduling conflicts but was called in as a replacement when James Carpinello was injured during previews. Jackson may not be with the show for the long term, so do your best to get tickets sooner rather than later; you don't want to miss this comic gem of a performance. The openly gay Jackson's romantic chemistry with Kerry Butler as the muse Clio (aka Kira) is off the charts, and when he roller skates in the shortest of shorts, it's a sight not soon to be forgotten.

Butler does a side-splitting take on Olivia Newton-John's earnest yet inept performance in the movie even as she makes the role of Kira own. Her Australian accent is a stitch — the way she pronounces the final word in the phrase “I must go” has got to be heard to be believed — and she displays a sweet singing voice and expert comic timing. Butler was adorable as Penny Pingleton in the original cast of Hairspray and winning as Audrey in the 2003 Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, but here she shines even more brightly, causing each and every member of the audience to fall hopelessly in love with her.