Taylor Pearlstein and Jeffrey Kringer in Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical. Picture: Jenny Anderson
Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical was reviewed at New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The production continues to tour until 2 June 2019.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
In an era when jukebox musicals have become mainly autobiographical and when original musicals aimed at younger audiences don’t always hit the mark, it is kind of refreshing to have a mature 90s jukebox musical that really works, following closely the lines of the 1999 cult movie on which it is based while incorporating pop songs from the period that were not part of the movie’s soundtrack but that are nonetheless very well integrated.
Far from cheesy, Roger Kumble’s film version of the 18th century French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, the movie Cruel Intentions (starring Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Philippe, and Selma Blair) deals with sexual manipulation in an adult manner.
The good news is that the musical adaptation, also created by Kumble, along with Jordan Ross and Lindsey Rosin, is true to the movie’s spirit.
Newcomer Jeffrey Kringer is perfectly cast as Sebastian Valmont. He’s really is believable and moving in the part and more than capable both vocally and in the acting department.
Taylor Pearlstein is equally excellent as the Kathryn Merteuil, no less evil than Sarah Michelle Gellar. Betsy Stewart also looks very much like Reese Witherspoon in the role of Annette Hargrove. And the role of Blaine Tuttle, fittingly expanded in the musical version, is also expertly played by David Wright. Brooke Singer impresses as Cecile Caldwell.
Since the show’s original Off-Broadway run at Le Poisson Rouge, the playlist has been altered, but the best numbers from the film’s soundtrack remain: ‘Every You Every Me’ (Placebo), ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ (The Verve), and ‘Colorblind’ (Counting Crows). Too bad all the titles aren’t included, but ‘Genie in a Bottle’ (Christina Aguilera), ‘No Scrubs’ (TLC) and ‘Torn’ (Natalie Imbruglia) fit particularly well into the show.
As opposed to the supposedly immersive Off-Broadway version, this Cruel Intentions is inventively choreographed by Jennifer Weber, with basic but efficient scenic and light designs by Jason Sherwood and Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, respectively.
Without being groundbreaking in any way, this show is highly entertaining throughout and is bound to not disappoint any of the movie’s fans. We can’t wait for the UK premiere at the Assembly George Gardens, as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, which will no doubt be followed by a London premiere.
Patrick Honoré
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