Tuesday, 18th February 2025 at the Grand Opera House, York
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Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical is a show that lives up to its full and formal name; a proud romp through a cult classic set to a generous parade of ‘90s pop hits.
Most impressive about this latest screen to stage adaptation is how well it sticks to the plot – but it has to be said that while the plot stands strong, the segues into a pretty constant cycle of songs (Music Director: Will Joy) are clangers more often than not. If a braver approach was taken and songs were leapt into at a more apt juncture (see: & Juliet) instead of sticking to lyrics a few miles from the story itself, the show would save itself an unnecessary layer of cringe that would allow more relish of the other enjoyably cheesy layers.
And the cheesiness is of course a big part of the appeal here – we know what we’re getting with this one, and direction from Jonathan O’Boyle lingers on the most iconic scenes while choreographer Gary Lloyd and costume designer Polly Sullivan bring all kinds of nostalgia front and centre for the ‘90s generation.
Will Callan and Nic Myers make for a suitably frosty pair as the cruelly-intentioned central step siblings Sebastian and Kathryn. Callan manages to give gravity to the characters’ later emotional overspills but Myers’ performance carries Ice Queen CEO vibes for the duration – landing catty one-liners throughout.
Abbie Budden often steals the spotlight with powerful vocals and a charismatic performance as the innocent Annette, but it’s Lucy Carter, playing Cecile, who steals the show with a brilliant comic performance alongside a cracking, powerful voice – rivalled in vocal and comic prowess only by Luke Conner Hall’s delicious performance as Blaine. Joe Simmons well and truly nails the closeted jock trope as Greg, and offers some real highlights in scenes with Hall.
Highlights include Carter’s most melodramatic moments and Gabriella Williams’ automaton performance of “No Scrubs” as the uptight Mrs Caldwell – given further comic value when transformed into a duet by the hard done by music teacher, played by Kevin Yates.
All in all, the show delivers on plenty of blasts from the past and a throughly enjoyable hit parade – cutting no corners with plot but admittedly lacking in polished structuring, particularly in those clunky musical segues (not to mention a bizarre sequence of stripping off while seemingly still surrounded by passengers at a train station…) That said, it’s early days for the tour and polish comes with time, so if you’re game for an indulgently cheesy night of nostalgia and toe-tapping bops, Cruel Intentions might be worth a punt!
Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical is at the Grand Theatre and Opera House, York until February 22nd 2025 – more information and tickets can be found here.
Always Time For Theatre 
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