LondonMusicalReview

Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical – New Wimbledon Theatre, London

Reviewer: Andrew Houghton

Book: Roger Kumble, Lindsey Rosin and Jordan Ross Schindler

Director: Jonathan O’Boyle

An entertaining pre-show announcement for Cruel Intentions: The 90’s Musical sets the tone brilliantly with sharp, scathing digs at the audience. The production employs a camp, tongue-in-cheek approach to its cult-movie retelling and seems, at least initially, to be quite self-aware. However, the line which separates laughing with and laughing at the show grows dangerously thin at points. Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical may be a crowd-pleasing and fun night out, but it sets its own bar quite low.

Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical returns audiences to the insidious world of the cult-hit titular movie, following two of Manhattan’s most dangerous step-siblings: Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil. Seeking revenge after her ex-boyfriend couples up with the innocent Cecile Caldwell, Kathryn asks Sebastian to seduce this new girl on the scene. Looking for a more interesting challenge, however, Sebastian makes a bet with Kathryn that he can seduce their incoming headmaster’s daughter, Annette Hargrove, who has publicly declared her chastity. As the pair puppeteer and manipulate their peers for their own amusement, a larger threat looms which may derail their hedonistic lifestyle: genuine love.

As is common with jukebox musicals or adaptations of popular culture, of which Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical is both, the audience must work harder to suspend disbelief. For many, the instantly recognisable hits are part of the fun, though this production unsubtly shoehorns its iconic tunes into the storytelling with mixed success. For example, certain songs and their choreography, feel mismatched to a situation, character or performer.

Another hurdle when adapting aged material is deciding how much to edit for a modern audience. The title of Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical clearly broadcasts the era it pays tribute to and the show delights the audience with nostalgic nods to long-lost media trends. Yet, reviving a ’90s plot which focuses on the actions of cruel people is bound to drag up some ugly attitudes. Some of these are handled well; for example, a queer sub-plot which is given much more attention and empathy than the source material. Discussions around race feel clumsier, with the morally corrupt sibling duo somehow given the role of calling out problematic views, and an uncomfortable rendition of No Scrubs by Mrs Caldwell feels like a very avoidable mistake.

A highlight of the production is Lucy Carter, who delivers a top-tier comedy performance as Cecile. She makes every moment her own, performing each musical number in a way that feels consistent with her character while also acknowledging the irony of the song choice. Also engaging is Will Callan as Sebastian, who is blessed with more character development and depth than his onstage step-sibling; effectively leading the production. Callan succeeds, true to his charismatic role, in seducing the audience despite being a largely cruel and manipulative protagonist. This is, in no small part, due to his gorgeously rich vocals which are standout amongst the cast and make light work of the production’s jukebox score.

Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical was made to entertain, not to elevate the standard of modern musical theatre, and it mostly succeeds in this if you can separate the camp from the crass. A strong cast performing popular music hits with high-energy choreography makes for a visually pleasing evening.

Runs until 1 March 2025 and continues to tour

The Reviews Hub Score

Crowd-pleasing

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The Reviews Hub - London

The Reviews Hub London is under the editorship of Richard Maguire. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.

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