I Can Die Too review – vibrant pop songs can’t bring actor’s tale to life

Pitlochry Festival theatre Following its star through rehearsals and squabbles with her director, this is modelled on Cocteau’s La Voix Humaine but it’s not speaking very clearly If Frances Ruffelle fancied putting on a one-woman cabaret show, it would be pretty good. The West End and Broadway star has certainly pulled together a decent set of original songs to flesh out I Can Die Too. Written by a dozen or so songwriters and brightly arranged by musical director Frew, they have the 1980s/90s pop feel of Cyndi Lauper, Britney Spears and Ultravox; a touch of torch song here, a slice of synth ballad there. Backed by cello, violin, keys and drums, Ruffelle is in her element singing them: nothing histrionic and the good judgment to know when the song needs a swing of the hips, a soft-shoe shuffle or just a straight, closed-eyed rendition. Continue reading...