He's not alone in his panning of Ewan. Most reviews noted that his singing voice was not strong, some were kind, some were very unkind to him. I did point this out when he was cast, that he couldn't sing, but nobody believed me.
Having seen this production, I totally agree with Mr. Riedel. There was no joy at all. The show belonged to Miss Jane (which is the best part in the show). Whenever she was on stage, your focus would always gravitate towards her (even next to McGregor).
Most of the singing in the show was not up to Broadway standards.
"Sit Down Your Rocking the Boat" was staged great, one of the best dance numbers I have ever seen, but the man who sang it was weak.
I went to London to see this show, I am just thankful for seeing "Billy Elliot" and very disappointed with "Guys and Dolls".
Well...Rob Ashford is a great coreographer - theres no wonder the dance is one of the best parts of the show...wish he would do more here in NY.
"Sit Down Your Rockin' the Boat" was brillantly choreographed. Jane Krakowski is a true theater star--she always lights up the stage.
As i've already stated-Ewan McGregor is charismatic but has a tiny...voice.
Do any of Ewan's vocal problems stem from the fact that he's playing a role too low for his voice? He sounded like a tenor in Moulin Rouge, and Sky is not a role to show off high notes... he spends quite a bit of the music around Low C.
No, they stem from the fact that he can't sing.
You know , they can make you sound all fine and dandy in the movie musicals. But when it comes time for the real theater, things are much different, he can't have his voice studio enhanced when he is on stage singing.
And far be it for me to point out that even when he's enhanced, he still sounds appalling.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/28/04
Ahh last year there was nearly NOTHING up to broadway standards in the U.K, i saw billy elliot and disliked it, But The Producers and Tick...Tick..Boom have made me happy....and after seeng the GSA graduting show taht my mate was in, I am hopeful for teh future of the westends performance.:)
XX
Not wishing to threadjack, but Jwaa, you're the only dissenting voice for Billy Elliott, on here or anywhere else.
Now, back to the McGregor dissing...........
I think the more intriguing part of this article is the notion that Broadway may yet again have a Tommy Tune production. I find that exhilarating.
Oh, for the golden tones of Marlon Brando!
I really liked the show when I saw it. It did happen to be the first production of the show that I saw. I was thoroughly entertained. It served its purpose for me. I disagree about the guy who sang "Sit Down Your Rockin The Boat". Maybe you caught him on a bad night. I do admit that Ewan's voice wasn't the best in the show but his acting was just fine.
Stand-by Joined: 4/14/05
But he's a Jedi!
::commands Order 66 on Michael Reidel::
Sorry. Geek moment. Had to be done.
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