I Can’t Sing: The X Factor Musical - Anything the Spice Girls can do, Harry Hill can do better
Alice Jones' Arts Diary
It is often the case that the bigger the hype around a musical, the bigger the flop it will make come press night. Still, the early signs for I Can’t Sing: The X Factor Musical look good
With a book and lyrics by Harry Hill, and Sean Foley ( The Play What I Wrote and The Ladykillers) directing, the tone appears to be pleasingly irreverent. In particular, the lyrics to the title song “ I Can’t Sing” – sung at this week’s launch by Cynthia Erivo – have plenty of Hill’s trademark wit: “Open my throat and windows start to crack / I thought a quaver was a cheese-based snack”. The song also features a dig at a former Spice Girl: “Didn’t think I could. Thought I made Geri Halliwell sound good.” With that sort of talk, it can’t afford to be another Viva Forever!-style flop, can it?
Carey Mulligan gives a run for her money
Runners in Sunday’s Run to the Beat half-marathon in London may find themselves sprinting alongside a star. Carey Mulligan has signed up to run for the Alzheimer’s Society. Her grandmother has had dementia for more than a decade.
Her Just Giving page shows that she has raised £1,900 so far, including an unspecified donation from “Hubby”, aka Marcus Mumford (above, with Mulligan), with the message “Don’t fall over, noodle.”
Also in the Arts Diary
The Novel Cure: If the problem persists, consult the great works of literature
It could be you: £2,500 tickets available for the art world's new lottery
@AlicevJones
Video: Simon Cowell on ultrasounds
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies