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The Bitter Suite

Director: Oley Sassone
Writer: Chris Manheim and Steven L. Sears

Starring:
Lucy Lawless
Renee O'Connor

Guest Stars:
Ted Raimi (Joxer)
Hudson Leick (Callisto)
Kevin Smith (Ares)
Martin Csokas (Khrafstar)
Daniel Sing (Ming Tien)
Willa O'Neill (Lila)
David Taylor (Solan)

Xena - The Musical! We know Lucy can sing, but can Renee or Argo? Ares, Joxer and Callisto all sing aswell. The dreaded RIFT is finally resolved in this episode, but the brutal opening caused some controversy among fans.

After the events of Maternal Instincts, an enraged and grief stricken Xena drags Gabrielle out of the Amazon village and prepares to kill her! Gabrielle flings herself at Xena, sending them both over a very high cliff...With their relationship at an all time low, Xena and Gabrielle are somehow transported to a magical land named Illusia where the faces are familiar, and they can work out their problems - in song.

All but Lucy Lawless, Ted Raimi and Kevin Smith have their singing dubbed. There are seven songs, some big choral numbers, some solos. Throughout the episode there is very striking Tarot card imagery, both in the costumes and the sets. A visual and auditory overload! Excellent work from music man Joseph LoDuca.

Notes:
Possibly the most ambitious idea that the producers have had, this episode and the 2 parter, The Debt were said to have taken half of the budget for the whole season. The Broadway choreographer that Lucy worked with on Grease assissted with the big production numbers. This is another episode that producer Rob Tapert was planning on directing, but Oley Sassone took over. Entertainment Tonight reporter Julie Moran plays one of the Poteidaia villagers.

Read about and order The Bitter Suite Soundtrack CD

Disclaimer : -
The musical genre was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. In fact, the procucers hope you were A-MUSE-D by this episode.

Go to my review of this episode

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