Tina Arena musical panned by West End critics

London: Australian songstress Tina Arena has landed in London's West End in an unenviable way, with the musical Notre Dame de Paris and her leading role being widely panned after opening night.

'It's a crock, monsieur,' was the London Evening Standard's page three headline.

'It's just a hunch, but this is no Les Mis,' said the Times, in another headline reminiscent of most daily papers' reviews.

Arena herself earned grudging praise for her Esmeralda from one or two reviewers, but this was swamped by the negative.

'Now Miss Arena sings very nicely thank you,' said the Standard. 'But she doesn't have the sexual charisma that warrants the abandonment of most of Victor Hugo's story.'

'Much needs excusing,' the Times said, 'including a pretty uninteresting leading lady.'

'She pitches into some nice numbers with plenty of brio ... but she radiates little erotic dazzle and no gypsy danger.'

The Guardian remarked upon Arena only for the way she 'pouts lasciviously', in a show which 'denies narrative, emotion, and human contact: we just get cardboard cut-outs bawling at each other.'

The Telegraph commented on an 'entirely unthrilling' production, but at least afforded the Australian star some praise in that she 'makes a sexy, sultry, strong-voiced Esmeralda'.

The Express also found room for one glowing comment on Arena, saying she had made a 'splendid' rendition of Live For The One I Love. But the Independent spoke for many critics when it said: 'Everyone belts out heartfelt numbers of pain and suffering but it's all so overblown that it's impossible to care.'