I Can Die Too, a new production at Pitlochry Festival theatre, boasts a set of vibrant pop songs but struggles to deliver a compelling narrative. The show follows Frances Ruffelle as Lily, an actor rehearsing Jean Cocteau's La Voix Humaine, but the script feels underwritten and the drama unconvincing.
Strong Musical Elements
Ruffelle, a West End and Broadway star, shines in the musical numbers. The songs, written by a dozen songwriters and arranged by musical director Frew, evoke the 1980s and 1990s pop styles of Cyndi Lauper, Britney Spears, and Ultravox. Backed by cello, violin, keyboards, and drums, Ruffelle delivers with good judgment, knowing when to add a hip swing or a soft-shoe shuffle.
Underwritten Plot
Credited to Ruffelle, Sally George, and artistic director Alan Cumming, the play is about Lily rehearsing Cocteau's monologue about a woman anxiously phoning a lover on the eve of his marriage. Lily repeatedly breaks off from the script to share her own love life stories, but these reminiscences are unremarkable. The backstage drama is sketchy, and it is hard to distinguish between the fictional actor and the character she plays.
Unconvincing Conflict
The only on-stage action is the squabbling between Lily and her director James, played by Stephen Ashfield. This conflict feels unconvincing. The story belatedly introduces a sentimental mother-daughter reunion, but it arrives too late to engage the audience.
Production Ambitions
Directed by Bill Buckhurst, the well-resourced studio show appears to have ambitions for a longer life. However, according to the review, it will take more than good songs to carry it. The production runs at Pitlochry Festival theatre until 2 August.
