Selling itself largely to a millennial audience, Cruel Intentions the Musical takes one of the most iconic films of our teenage years and combines it with a bunch of 90’s pop bangers to create this little gem of a musical.
Honestly, it’s probably the most fun you’ll ever have at a musical as sing alongs and audience participation are encouraged (to a point). The small size of the Alex Theatre worked well for this and the creative use of the centre aisle as a part of the stage added to the immersion.
The cast were great, their performances perfectly calibrated to such a high energy show. The visual space, while small, was used well and I loved the sex positive vibe of the show. For me, the musical numbers of the second half are much stronger than the first, but the songs are thoughtfully selected and arranged throughout. For a musical relying entirely on pre existing music, it’s incredibly impressive they manage to both reflect the tone and emotions of the story whilst also choosing recognisable, popular songs of the 90s. Catherine’s medley towards the start of the second half is a highlight.
We were seated quite close to the back, and the one downside for me was that we did feel a little disconnected. The theatre wasn’t full and at the start of the show one of the staff proceeded to pluck people at random from around us moving them closer to the stage which just further added to this isolation. The small increase in cost between these seats and those further forward (at most $20) led to a vastly different experience which I don’t think is fully made clear before booking. Similarly, the closer to the aisle the better your experience, another thing that is again a little lacking in transparency. I’d certainly recommend going for the VIP or premium tickets if you can. You’ll really notice the difference.
Having said that, it’s still an incredibly enjoyable evening and an affordable theatre option. You’ll have a lot of fun and the songs will be stuck in your head for days afterwards. If you’re a lover of all things 90s this is one not to miss!