THEATRE
REVIEW: ‘Cruel Intentions – The 90’s Musical’ (2015)
Created by Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin & Roger Kumble
Based on the 1999 Motion Picture by Roger Kumble
Another musical that does not really fit in either ‘Forgotten Musicals’ or ‘British Musicals’, being a 2015 American Jukebox Musical, based on the 1999 film ‘Cruel Intentions’ (itself based on ‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses’ by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos and the associated 1988 film, ‘Dangerous Liaisons’) , starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon & Selma Blair. It features a score made up of hit songs from the 1990s, originally sung by artists including Britney Spears, Boyz II Men, Ace of Base, Natalie Imbruglia, Christina Aguilera and even The Verve. The musical's book is by Roger Kumble, Lindsey Rosin and Jordan Ross. Kumble was the writer and director of the original film.
History
After successful performances in Los Angeles and New York, the show made its Off-Broadway debut at Greenwich Village nightclub Le Poisson Rouge in November 2017. Originally scheduled for a ten-week engagement, the show was extended three times, through to April 2018. Following a sold-out, critically acclaimed production in the ‘Assembly Palais du Variété Spiegeltent’ at the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, ‘Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical’ finally arrived in London at the start of 2024, at The Other Palace (home to the same producers’ ‘Heathers – The Musical’ for much of its later run).
Story
Fuelled by revenge and passion, the diabolically charming and manipulative step-siblings, Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil, place a bet on whether or not Sebastian can deflower their incoming headmaster's daughter, Annette Hargrove. As the two set out to destroy the innocent girl — and anyone else who gets in their way — they find themselves playing a perilous game with only one rule: Never fall in love.
In A Nutshell
Come and enter the manipulative world of Manhattan's most cruel and dangerous liaisons.
Production
The main auditorium at The Other Palace (where I had previously seen ‘Eugenius!’) has excellent sight-lines, and despite being towards the back, I could see everything that was happening clearly. The first few songs weren’t very familiar to me, but as soon as Kathryn started singing ‘Genie in a Bottle’, I found myself hooked. The songs were all perfectly chosen, and the production certainly refuted my rule (after watching ‘Desperately Seeking Susan – The Musical’ featuring the songs of Blondie in 2007) that a musical can either be based on a film (with the songs being written to fit the plot) or be a jukebox musical (with the plot being written to fit the songs), but not both ! The trick here seemed to be to have spoken parts in the middle of songs to cover plot points. Similar to when I went to see ‘& Juliet’, many of the songs were greeted with a chuckle by the audience amused at how the book writers had managed to effortlessly lead into another 90s classic.
The cast comprised three groups of four – the four leads Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky (Kathryn), Daniel Bravo (Sebastian), Abbie Burden (Annette) and Rose Galbraith (Cecile); four supporting characters played by Josh Barnett, Barney Wilkinson, Nickcolia King-N’Da and Jess Buckby; and an ensemble of two males and two females (who also acted as understudies to the other eight). The four leads all had amazing voices, and their relationships were all very believable. And although there was a sexiness to it all, it never slipped into sleaziness. I also left the theatre humming multiple 90s classics (as did the rest of the audience).
Very highly recommended, especially for fans of the film or 1990s music.
‘Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical’ runs at the Other Palace Theatre, London, until 19th May 2024.
Favourite Song
In a jukebox musical this is a slightly different proposition – but I must admit that not only did I enjoy how one of Ace of Base’s finest was repurposed at the start of Act 2, but I was singing it all the way home (thanks to it popping up again in the ‘Cruel Megamix’ at the end).
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