Now celebrating its 25th anniversary since the release of the cult classic film, Cruel Intentions tells the story of the callous and devious stepsiblings Kathryn Merteuil and Sebastian Valmont, played by Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky and Daniel Bravo respectively, and their bet to toy with the innocent Annette Hargrove (Abbie Budden). In their quest to destroy her reputation, the devilish pair tangle themselves in a web of lies and deceit, not yet understanding the cost of their actions.
Featuring the music of Britney Spears, Boyz II Men, and Christina Aguilera (amongst others), Cruel Intentions is a classy, cliché, and clever retelling of the 90s cult classic film. The soundtrack is outrageous and memorable, leading to general outbursts of laughter and massive smiles as the audience relive the 90s through the music. However, there are a few moments where the songs do not accurately depict what is going on in the scene, which could lead to some confusion, especially to someone unfamiliar with the story. This being said, the general energy of the cast was electrifying, and made this show a real feel-good moment of nostalgia.
The lighting design (Nick Richings) was ingenious – leaning into the darker shades, it created the perfect ambiance for the sinister plots afoot and nicely complemented the sets designed by Polly Sullivan. The set includes of a decadent black sofa, creating an atmosphere similar to that of a cabaret, leaning itself into the devil-may care attitude Kathryn and Sebastian seem to portray. This is the juxtaposed by the simple, yet effective, bean bags which inhabit Blaine Tuttle’s atmosphere, instantly creating a divide between the stepsiblings and the people who help them achieve their plans, as well as offering a more innocent outlook on teenage life amongst the social elites.
Josh Barnett’s portrayal of Blaine impressed audiences as they could not help the smile when he entered the room, lighting it up with his joie-de-vivre which seemed to somewhat conceal his true deceiving nature. His character offered incredibly memorable moments of musical interlude, often serving as a respite from the devilish plans of the stepsiblings. The cast in its entirety are incredible and a lot of fun to watch as they perform Gary Lloyd’s energetic choreography, seemingly personifying the raging hormones enlaced in the Upper East Side youth.
The standout performances, however, must be handed to Rose Galbraith and Abbie Budden as both were making their professional debuts with this show, yet performed with such ease and elegance that it was not in any way apparent. Both their characters involve challenging vocal moments, and they handled it with such grace that you could not help but feel attached to their respective characters, despite their toxic traits.
The book is absolutely hilarious and yet offers some genuine heartfelt moments. However, it felt as though the heartfelt moments were slightly rushed, and often far between, which made it somewhat hard to get attached to the characters. This being said, this production will surely pride itself on offering a somewhat light-hearted rendition of the 1999 cult classic movie, often sugarcoating the devilish nature of its characters by weaving in classic 90s songs, allowing the audience moments of pure nostalgia, and deviating slightly from the truly abhorrent actions of the stepsiblings.
Overall, the production of this show is sensational, and it is truly a great joy for any audience to witness. Despite the simple storyline, it would be advisable to watch the movie prior to watching the show as it can help to understand certain references and make the overall experience much more enjoyable, especially to younger audiences who may not react as passionately to the 90s music as most adults would.
Regardless, the cast cannot help but electrify the audience with their riotous energy, making this show a very fun and memorable night out. So, the question now is: Are you in? Or are you out?
Cruel Intentions is now playing at the Other Palace Theatre for a limited time, until 14th April. For more information and tickets, you can follow the link here.
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AD | gifted tickets in return for an honest review | photography by Pamela Raith
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