‘X Factor’ musical ‘I Can’t Sing!’: What do the critics think?
By Sam Rigby
The X Factor musical I Can’t Sing! officially opened in London’s West End last night (March 26).
The production – written by Harry Hill and endorsed by Simon Cowell himself – has received largely positive reviews from critics, following a turbulent preview period.
The first previews of the show were postponed twice, while another preview performance was abandoned at the interval because of an electrical fault.
However, the musical – which stars Nigel Harman as Simon – earned a five star review from the Express, who described it as “by far the best of the big West End musical openings of the last few months”.
Meanwhile, The Independent also enjoyed the production, saying that there are “some sharp digs at the manipulativeness of the process”, while noting that the performance of original track Song I Wrote For You was a “liberating highlight”.
However, The Guardian were a little less enthusiastic, describing I Can’t Sing! as “uneasily pitched between send-up and celebration”. Critic Michael Billington added that he fails “to see the point of a show that doesn’t know whether it wants to excoriate The X Factor or boost its TV ratings”.
The Radio Times awarded I Can’t Sing! an impressive four-and-and-a-half stars out five, but noted that “its success is far from guaranteed” in today’s difficult West End climate.
The Telegraph‘s Charles Spencer described the Sean Foley-directed show as “wildly eccentric and often wonderfully funny”.
He went on to predict that the show will be “a big popular hit”, which has “real heart and great theatrical panache”.
Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden reviewed I Can’t Sing! for The Mirror describing it as “fantastic” and awarding it four stars.
She explained: “I’m not just saying that because I know everyone from the X Factor and wanted to write a glowing review no matter how good or bad I Can’t Sing turned out to be.”
She also praised Nigel Harman for his “superb” lead performance.
I Can’t Sing is now playing at the London Palladium.