Brooke Shields should be given props for the having the cojones to get on stage and sing in the new stage musical Leap of Faith.
Unfortunately, she needs more than courage to successfully star opposite someone like Broadway powerhouse Raúl Esparza...
While we love us some Brooke, she fails to impress in Leap, which opened Sunday at L.A.'s Ahmanson Theatre.
Based on the Steve Martin flick of the same name, Shields stars as a smalltown waitress raising her young son who was left partially crippled from a car accident that killed her husband. Romance blooms when a con man preacher (Esparza) comes to town.
Producers apparently want to transfer Leap of Faith to Broadway. There's much tinkering that needs to be done before that could happen. Songs should be cut (show is way too long) and, sadly, so should Brooke Shields.
Shields' voice isn't strong enough for the show's soaring ballads and gospel-infused ensemble numbers. Leap of Faith belongs to Esparza. His energy, musical mastery and showmanship are what Broadway is all about.