I Can't Sing! Explained

I Can't Sing!
Subtitle:The X Factor Musical
Music:Steve Brown
Lyrics:Harry Hill
Steve Brown
Basis:The X Factor
Premiere Location:London Palladium
Productions:2014 West End

I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical was a musical comedy written by Harry Hill,[1] and Steve Brown. Based on the TV series The X Factor, the musical made its West End and world premiere in March 2014, at the London Palladium. Due to low ticket sales, it closed just 6 weeks and 3 days later on 10 May 2014, reportedly losing £4 million.[2]

Background

In December 2012, Harry Hill announced that he was working on a musical based on the talent show The X Factor.[3] The show was confirmed in 2013, and it was announced that the musical would open in London in 2014, and would be called It's Time to Face the Musical![4]

On 22 May, it was announced the show would now be called I Can't Sing!,[5] and that it would play the London Palladium,[6] with tickets going on sale the following day.[7] The show was written by Harry Hill[8] and is directed by Sean Foley,[9] with choreography by Kate Prince,[10] set design by Es Devlin,[11] costume design by Leah Archer,[12] illusions by Scott Penrose,[13] lighting design by Jon Clark,[12] orchestrations by Chris Egan,[12] sound design by Gareth Owen[11] and sound effects by Ben and Max Ringham.[13] An original score of 19 songs was penned, by Hill with music by Steve Brown.[14]

At the press launch for the show on 2 September 2013,[15] [16] Simon Cowell said of the concept of an X Factor Musical: “I thought the idea of an X Factor musical, if it was too pompous, would be rubbish, and I did not want it to appear like a cash cow. I wanted it to be a celebration of the show but at the same time poke fun at what we do, because you can’t take it too seriously. Harry of all the people was the right person. His observation of the show in the past has been spot on.”[17] People parodied in the show include Simon Cowell,[18] Cheryl Cole,[19] Louis Walsh,[20] and Dermot O'Leary.[21]

Production history

West End (2014)

On 30 August 2013, it was announced that Nigel Harman would play the role of Simon Cowell,[22] with Alan Morrissey playing the role of Max[17] and Cynthia Erivo playing Chenice the main contestant in the story.[23] The production's first public performance came at the Royal Variety Performance in November 2013, performing a medley of "Please Simon" and "I Can't Sing!", the show's title song.[24]

I Can't Sing! began rehearsals on 6 January,[25] with previews commencing on 5 March 2014,[26] at the London Palladium, London, before holding its official opening gala night on 26 March.[27] The production had been scheduled to begin previews on 27 February,[28] however the opening two previews were cancelled due to technical issues with the show's set.[29] Following the initial cancellations, the production had to cancel a further preview performance, due to a key mechanism within the set not functioning correctly.[30] [31] Problems continued into previews,[32] with early performances intervals lasting 50 mins, due to set changeovers between acts taking longer than expected[33] and one preview getting cancelled at the interval due to electrical problems.[34] A typical London performance ran two hours and 30 minutes, including one interval of 20 mins.[35]

The production closed on the 10 May,[36] just six weeks and three days after its official opening night.[37] Speaking about the closure, Cowell said “We took a punt and it didn't work out. If I could do things different, I would have gone to local theatres and built up a following. We went in too big a theatre - it's the biggest theatre in the West End."[38]

Music

In September 2013, four tracks were released on SoundCloud[39] and through the shows official website.[40] [41] The songs were "I Can't Sing",[39] "If That's Not Entertainment",[39] "Please Simon"[39] and "I Wanna Be Like Bono",[39] although the latter did not make it into the final show. The musical uses a nine-member orchestra consisting of keyboard, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, trumpets and reeds.[35]

On 1 April 2020 a YouTube user uploaded all the songs from the show onto the site. The released songs were recorded live during one of the performances through a soundboard. Harry Hill acknowledged the leak on his Instagram page, saying he was "very pleased" to hear the songs, while jokingly calling the uploader "naughty" and referring to the musical as a "megaflop".[42]

Musical numbers

Act I
Act II

Principal roles and cast members

CharacterOriginal West End actor[43] [44] [45]
SimonNigel Harman[46]
CheniceCynthia Erivo
MaxAlan Morrissey
BarlowSimon Lipkin
Liam O'DearySimon Bailey
HunchbackCharlie Baker
Gerrard SmallsBilly Carter
JordyVictoria Elliott
LouisAshley Knight
BrendaKaty Secombe
GrandpaJoe Speare
Security GuardDelroy Atkinson
UndertakerJoseph Prouse
BrunhildeAlex Young
VladimirSteven Serlin
AlterboyzShaun Smith & Rowen Hawkins
Soul StarScott Garnham, Gary Trainor & Jenna Boyd
The WindLuke Baker
Young SimonsFinlay Banks, Noah Key, Macready Massey & Milo Panni
VoiceoverPeter Dickson

Notes and References

  1. Web site: X Factor musical I Can't Sing has a go at Simon Cowell . . independent.co.uk . 3 September 2013 . 4 September 2013.
  2. News: X Factor musical I Can't Sing! to close after less than two months. Richard Osley . 27 April 2014 . The Independent .
  3. Web site: X Factor the Musical? Harry Hill plans spoof show for the West End . . guardian.co.uk . 10 December 2012 . 27 June 2013.
  4. Web site: X Factor — It's Time to Face the Musical! Heading to West End in Spring 2014 . . playbill.com . 15 March 2013 . 25 September 2022.
  5. Web site: Harry Hill names X Factor musical . . bbc.co.uk . 22 May 2013 . 27 June 2013.
  6. Web site: Spoof X Factor musical has a title: I Can't Sing! . . guardian.co.uk . 23 May 2013 . 27 June 2013.
  7. Web site: X Factor musical titled I Can't Sing!, opens Palladium March 2014 . Whats On Stage . whatsonstage.com . 22 May 2013 . 27 June 2013.
  8. Web site: X Factor musical 'I Can't Sing!' set to hit West End theatre next year . NME . nme.com . 23 May 2013 . 25 September 2022.
  9. Web site: Simon Cowell's X Factor musical to be called I Can't Sing! . . radiotimes.com . 22 May 2013 . 27 June 2013.
  10. Web site: X Factor musical I Can't Sing to open at the Palladium next year . The Stage . thestage.co.uk . 22 May 2013 . 27 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140109020330/http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/production/2013/05/x-factor-musical-i-cant-sing-to-open-at-the-palladium-next-year/ . 9 January 2014.
  11. Web site: I Can't Sing - The X Factor Musical Will Open at London Palladium in March 2014 . . playbill.com . 22 May 2013 . 25 September 2022.
  12. Web site: I Can't Sing! Creative Team . I Can't Sing! . icantsingthemusical.com . 27 June 2013.
  13. London Palladium Theatre Programme . I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical . March 2014 . 28–31.
  14. Web site: The joke's on Simon Cowell as X Factor musical is called 'I Can't Sing' . . standard.co.uk . 22 May 2013 . 27 June 2013.
  15. Web site: Harry Hill's X Factor musical has it in for Simon Cowell . . theguardian.com . 2 September 2013 . 4 September 2013.
  16. Web site: The X Factor Musical: First look . . telegraph.co.uk . 2 September 2013 . 4 September 2013.
  17. Web site: Simon Cowell X Factor musical is not just a "cash cow" . . thestage.co.uk . 2 September 2013 . 2 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141013013055/http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/production/2013/09/simon-cowell-x-factor-musical-just-cash-cow/ . 13 October 2014.
  18. Web site: 'X Factor musical' I Can't Sing!'s future in doubt as opening night postponed again . . independent.co.uk . 1 March 2014 . 15 March 2014.
  19. Web site: NEW DAD Simon Cowell claims Cheryl Cole is 'going to kill' him when she sees his new X Factor musical. . . dailystar.co.uk . 23 February 2014 . 15 March 2014.
  20. Web site: Simon Cowell braces himself for Cheryl Cole backlash following Harry Hill X Factor musical I Can't Sing . . mirror.co.uk . 6 March 2014 . 15 March 2014.
  21. Web site: Simon Cowell mocks Demot O'Leary in musical . . list.co.uk . 6 December 2013 . 15 March 2014.
  22. Web site: Nigel Harman cast as Simon Cowell in new X Factor musical by Harry Hill . . mirror.co.uk . 30 August 2013 . 30 August 2013.
  23. Web site: Nigel Harman and Cynthia Erivo star in X Factor musical I Can't Sing! . Whats on Stage . whatsonstage.com . 30 August 2013 . 30 August 2013.
  24. Web site: Full casting announced for X Factor musical 'I Can't Sing' . West End Frame . westendframe.com . 6 December 2013 . 2 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131214004505/http://www.westendframe.com/2013/12/full-casting-announced-for-x-factor.html . 14 December 2013.
  25. Web site: Rehearsals Start Today . I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical . twitter.com . 6 January 2014 . 6 January 2014.
  26. Web site: West End's "X Factor" Musical I Can't Sing! Postpones Start of Previews; Will Now Begin Performances March 1 . . playbill.com . 24 February 2014 . 25 September 2022.
  27. Web site: 'I Can't Sing': Harry Hill reveals name of his X Factor musical . . express.co.uk . 22 May 2013 . 25 June 2013.
  28. Web site: X Factor musical I Can't Sing! cancels first two previews . . thestage.co.uk . 24 February 2014 . 24 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140304072612/http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/production/2014/02/x-factor-musical-cant-sing-cancels-first-two-previews/ . 4 March 2014.
  29. Web site: Simon Cowell's X Factor musical I Can't Sing preview shows cancelled but why? . . mirror.co.uk . 24 February 2014 . 24 February 2014.
  30. Web site: Postpones Tomorrow's First Performance; Previews Will Now Begin Next Week . Broadway World . broadwayworld.com . 28 February 2014 . 1 March 2014.
  31. Web site: I Can't Sing! postpones previews for second time . Whats On Stage . whatsonstage.com . 28 February 2014 . 1 March 2014.
  32. Web site: It's a no from me: The X Factor musical flops at big audition . https://web.archive.org/web/20140307005322/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/its-a-no-from-me-the-x-factor-musical-flops-at-big-audition-9174630.html . dead . March 7, 2014 . . independent.co.uk . 6 March 2014 . 7 March 2014.
  33. Web site: I Can't Sing! producers admit 'still work to do' . . bbc.co.uk/news . 7 March 2014 . 7 March 2014.
  34. Web site: Simon Cowell's X Factor musical I Can't Sing cancelled mid-performance after electrical fault . . independent.co.uk . 18 March 2014 . 18 March 2014.
  35. London Palladium Theatre Programme . I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical . March 2014 . 27.
  36. Web site: X Factor musical I Can't Sing! to close early . . bbc.co.uk/news . 27 April 2014 . 27 April 2014.
  37. Web site: X Factor musical I Can't Sing! to close after less than two months . . independent.co.uk . 27 April 2014 . 27 April 2014.
  38. Web site: I Can't Sing didn't work out . . list.co.uk . 9 May 2014 . 10 May 2014.
  39. Web site: Four NEW Tracks From I CAN'T SING! - THE X FACTOR MUSICAL . Broadway World . broadwayworld.com . 13 September 2013. 2 January 2014.
  40. Web site: Music . I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical . icantsingthemusical.com . 2 January 2014.
  41. Web site: A sneak peek at its funniest lyrics . Digital Spy . digitalspy.co.uk . 4 September 2013 . 2 January 2014.
  42. Web site: Hill . Harry . Harry Hill on Instagram: "I've no idea who put 'em up but very pleased to hear all the songs from me n Steve Brown's MegaFlop X Factor musical I CAN'T SING on YouTube! Naughty! #icantsing #xfactormusical #megaflop #allkindsofeverything". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B-cLRr5p7US . 2021-12-24 . limited. Instagram . 1 April 2020 .
  43. Web site: Cast . I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical . icantsingthemusical.com . 29 December 2013.
  44. Web site: The Results Are In! West End's X Factor Musical I Can't Sing! Announces Full Casting . Broadway.Com . broadway.com . 6 December 2013 . 29 December 2013.
  45. London Palladium Theatre Programme . I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical . March 2014 . 26.
  46. Web site: Downton Abbey's Nigel Harman cast as 'Simon Cowell' in X Factor musical I Can't Sing . . metro.co.uk . 30 August 2013 . 30 August 2013.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "I Can't Sing!".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.