Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical

This musical is set around the final year of High School, but those seeking a PG night of entertainment will be in for a shock, as Cruel Intentions features both thumping good 90s songs and risqué entertainment.

The 1999 movie of the same name is an adaptation of the classic novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, moving the sexual intrigue from aristocratic Paris to the upper echelons of New York.

Remarkably, two writers adapted the film into a theatrical production without permission of the owners of the movie, and then won over the original creative who came along to watch a preview and became a champion for the musical.

The central characters are Sebastian (Drew Weston) and Kathryn (Kirby Burgess) who engage in a wager of sexual conquest where Annette Hargove (Kesley Halge) is the target and victim.

The musical opens with the song “Every You Every Me” with Sebastian flopping onto the couch of a therapist, where he confesses that at the age of 18, he is a sex addict. Weston leaves nothing on the table in his performance and won admirers of his recent efforts in the gym when his pecs and buttocks were required viewing.

The jukebox musical includes 90s hits “Genie in a Bottle”, “Kiss Me”, “Torn” and “Losing my Religion”.

Sometimes the songs fit snuggly into the narrative, while at other times their placement elicited giggles in the audience when they were recognised.

A gay relationship was also featured in the storyline, which was danced with spunk by Euan Doidge and Joseph Spanti, but it felt a little sudden for them to be singing “Bye Bye Bye” when we had only just been introduced to the characters.

The musical was lit in a purple hue with an occasional harsh spotlight into the audience. A highlight was the video design by Craig Wilkinson, where lyrics were projected onto the set.

The four-piece band punched well above their numbers helping the audience to keep tapping and driving some members of their audience to their feet at the curtain call.

David Spicer