Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical at the Palace Theatre is everything fans of the original film deserve and more.
Based on the 1999 romantic thriller Cruel Intentions – directed by Roger Kumble and starring Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe – this jukebox musical arrived in Manchester following sell-out seasons in London and New York.
The story follows compulsive sexual connivers and step-siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Marteuil as they weave a web of jealously and passion through their wealthy Manhattan high school.
When the new headmaster’s virgin daughter Annette Hargrove joins the school, a scandalous wager takes place between the sexually diabolical step-siblings.
These nefarious step-siblings are used to secrets, deception, and lust. But what about the worst trait of all – love?
Given the musical is the partial brainchild of Roger Kumble – the director and writer behind the original film – fans of the movie can be reassured that there was no attempt to reinvent the wheel in the transition from screen to stage.
The difference in its adaption is largely stylistic and the essence of the film runs right through the stage show’s blood.
Courtesy of a stacked soundtrack featuring ‘90s pop icons Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Ace of Base, the Spice Girls and more, Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Mosucial is a fun, energetic and cheeky performance that gives fans a true throwback to the ‘90s.
Where the film’s deadpan delivery of raunchy sexual innuendo left audiences cringing, a retelling through the medium of ‘90s pop music completely de-toothed any hint of the taboo.
The result is a hilariously unserious and self-aware musical that injected the cult classic film with the sense of humour it always deserved. I suspect the cast had a lot of fun performing Cruel Intentions.
This created a challenge of its own for the cast’s lead actors. Will Callan and Nic Myers, who played Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil, displayed an excellent range of skill as they segued from ‘90s singalong classics to serious and sensitive love-story monologue with apparent ease.
The cast oozed all the fun of ‘90s pop music in their professional singing and dancing performances and credit for a lot of that must fall to choreographer and associate director Gary Lloyd as well as music director Will Joy.
The audience was won over immediately and the show received a standing ovation on its opening night.
The musical does not adjust its ‘90s colloquialisms and dated attitudes towards consent to the present day.
Some people may find certain details of the performance uncomfortable by modern standards, no less the scene where Sebastian fetches underage love interest Cecile Caldwell an iced tea from Long Island.
But Cruel Intentions intended to remain an artefact of the ‘90s in every fibre of its being, so this decision felt reasonable and appropriate.
I guess when the plot revolves around a pair of underage, incestuous step-siblings – one of whom has a cocaine addition – and their nefarious wagers over sexual conquests, there’s an understanding that the audience should not take all of the details too seriously.
And that was exactly the lesson this musical taught me. Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical reminded me that there’s sometimes no need to justify decisions in life with reasonable rationale and logic – if something is simply fun, then that is as good a reason as any.
And if Cruel Intentions is one thing, it’s certainly fun.
Cruel Intentions is at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, until Saturday 29 March.
Feature image: Pamela Raith Photography
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