Presented by David Venn Enterprises
Reviewed: 9 September 2022
Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical is a celebration of 90s nostalgia – fashion, music and of course teen romance movies. Based on the 1999 film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair, the musical doesn’t stray too far from the original film, much to the excitement of the audience who were laughing along with familiar lines.
The film, initially a small-budget independent film, was picked up by Columbia Pictures and became the hugely successful film that we know today. The storyline is simple: Annette (played by Reese Witherspoon) unknowingly becomes a pawn in Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe) and Kathryn’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) wager of sexual conquest after she writes an article on celibacy in Seventeen Magazine. You don’t need to have seen the film to get the show, but it does help. The script of the musical does heavily rely on a basic knowledge of the plot and brushes over several key plot points quickly.
It is worth noting that the show is based on a movie that is very much a product of the 90s, and there are themes and dialogue throughout that in today’s culture are cringe-worthy. Having said that, each cast member has tackled these with grace and care. The show is also a lot more sexual than the original film (mostly due to the fact the show is “live” and not on a screen), so perhaps not a show for the under 15s, or you may have a fun car ride home.
Alister Smith’s direction is fun, creative, and has included a lot of subtle nods to the film throughout. Choreography by Freya List was the perfect accompaniment to the 90s soundtrack of the show. Daniel Puckey’s music direction was tight and well drilled. Vocally, this cast was exquisite. The ensemble numbers were perfectly executed and their blend was liquid gold and a feast for the ears. The simple four piece band moved effortlessly through each number. It is worth noting that the program credits for the band may not be accurate – there was at least one local South Australian playing who was not credited.
Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical is jam-packed with over 21 of the biggest hits that came out of the decade. Unlike some other jukebox musicals going around, the songs in this show don’t feel like they’ve been forced into the show. They complement the script well, and dialogue flows into songs smoothly.
Kirby Burgess (Kathryn Mertevil) is sublime. Her mannerisms, voice, and characterisation are mesmerising. Vocally, Burgess moves between musical styles with ease and there is great depth in her performance. Drew Weston (Sebastian Valmont) and Kelsey Halge (Annette Hargrove) are also brilliant. Weston brings across the cocky nature of Sebastian perfectly and vocally tackles the score with ease.
Other standouts in this cast include: Francine Cain as Cecile Caldwell; Rishab Kern as Ronald Clifford; and Fem Belling as Mrs. Caldwell. Cain has perfectly captured the character that Selma Blair made famous in the film. Her duet with Kern, Breakfast At Tiffany’s, was a real highlight. Belling brought great humour to this production at all the right moments and was captivating to watch. I wished the show included more numbers for Mrs Caldwell, as Belling’s voice was sensational.
Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical proves that you don’t need an over-the-top set to make a good piece of theatre. A scaffold at the back of the stage that housed the band, four moving panels featuring large picture frames, two giant moving doors, two chairs and a couch was all it took to create the vast number of locations in the show. Adding to the simple set was the innovative use of projection. I am usually not a fan of projection in productions as it can look fake and distract from the action; however, the video design by Craig Wilkinson was excellent. It added a depth to the numbers in the show. The lighting design by Declan O’Neill was also well thought through. With the combination of the projection and lighting designs, it gave each number a ‘90s music video’ vibe.
Unfortunately, when a show moves into a new theatre with less than adequate tech rehearsal time, some things suffer. On opening night, there were several missed lighting cues that left actors in the dark while delivering their lines, some of the projection cues were skipped through or out of sync, and there were several late follow spot moments. The biggest disappointment was the audio quality. The mix throughout the whole show was overly treble-heavy and tinny in its quality. Also, sadly, a lot of the solo moments were lost in the mix and were overpowered by the band.
Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical is a fun, high energy production that is worth seeing. The audience left with a smile on their face. The cast are sensational, and bring so much to this show. The show is pure joy and a celebration of the 90s.
Reviewed by: Ben Stefanoff
Twitter: @theartsislife
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre
Season: September 9 – 24
Duration: 2 hrs including 20 min interval
Tickets: From $79.00
Bookings: https://www.cruelintentions.com.au/
Rating out of 5: 4
Photo Credit: Nicole Cleary
@cruelintentionsau #crueltintentionsau
More News
