Cruel Intentions is a jukebox musical based on the 1999 film of the same name, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Reese Witherspoon - with a score made up of hit songs from the 1990s.
The plot is fairly straight forward - Kathryn Merteuil goads her step brother, Sebastian into attempting to seduce Annette Hargrove, the headmaster’s virtuous daughter. However, their crusade wreaks havoc on the students at their exclusive Manhattan high school and it’s not long before the duo become entangled in their own web of deception and unexpected romance, with explosive results.
Cruel Intentions made its off Broadway debut in 2017 and was extended three times, through to April 2018. The show had its UK debut in August 2019 as part of the Edinburgh Fringe and opened at The Other Palace in January 2024.
What really comes across in this production is a deep sense of nostalgia, which is punctuated by the clothing, the references and the soundtrack as well as a stunning set by Polly Sullivan. The whole show is a personification of MTV, skateboards and Walkmans - and the audience lap up every moment.
Staying true to the film, with just some slight British tweaks (I'm thinking Spice Girls!) the cast are sublime.
Nic Myers plays Kathryn and, alongside Will Callan's Sebastian, brings us a deranged double act that are are cliche as they are brilliant. Vocally strong and with a phenomenal chemistry on stage, they had some of the cleverest moments which make this show shine.
Equally as brilliant are the West Midlands' own, Joe Simmons as Greg and Luke Conner Hall as Blaine - providing comedy and sassy one-liners, each are strong but as a twosome, their slick, well rehearsed take on these characters is refreshing. Their storyline was fairly concise in the film so it's pleasing to see it fleshed out for the musical.
We should also spare a moment for the soundtrack, which takes us on a rollercoaster of 90s emotion and, pleasingly, not always with obvious choices. Spice Girls and TLC are mixed in with Goo Goo Dolls and The Cardigans. Whilst some tracks are shamelessly crowbarred in to fit the narrative, there are some stand-out moments, including the finale with a stunning rendition of Bittersweet Symphony and a full dance routine for Bye, Bye, Bye!
Let's be clear - this isn't Shakespeare. Whilst the film is a cult classic, the storyline is fairly plain sailing and we don't come to learn a huge amount about the characters, so it can be difficult to form any sort of emotional attachment. Sebastian's attempts to woo Annette are a key part of the plot, but are condensed into a handful of short scenes with a song or two, after which he's madly in love and trying to stop her leaving.
However, what this production really serves as, is a vehicle for a period in time to be celebrated. This is a sassy, sexy and brash show which is a time capsule of nostalgia and a brilliant night out at the theatre. It's an exaggerated take on teenage life which had the audience on their feet spontaneoulsly.
Cruel Intentions plays at Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 7th June. For more information, or to get your tickets, head online to birminghamhippodrome.com.
