Christopher Hampton’s gloriously camp screenplay for Dangerous Liaisons featuring two bored French aristocrats playing twisted sexual games proved to be far too tempting for Hollywood studio bosses. They repacked it as nineties hit Cruel Intentions but this time featuring New York high school kids set to a banging soundtrack of hits from that decade.
As every movie ever seems to be getting the musical treatment these days it was only a matter of time before it hit the stage, and although shortened versions of those nineties bangers do punctuate the action it’s not a classic jukebox musical in the obvious ways that Mamma Mia! or We Will Rock You are. That’s because it’s based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ classic novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, so the plot isn’t badly written drivel, and is wonderfully arch and really quite raunchy.
Step siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil rule their Manhattan prep school, but these rich kids are bored so Kathryn challenges him to seduce her ex-boyfriend’s innocent girlfriend Cecile. That’s too easy for arch seducer Sebastian who ups the ante but bets his prize vintage Jaguar car he can deflower headteacher’s daughter Anette and if he wins he gets to sleep with Kathryn. Yep, nothing is off limits here, but emotions get in the way in this hormone saturated romp with tragic repercussions.
Like another movie to stage hit Heathers this is pretty dark stuff, and none of the posh kids are particularly appealing characters, so it is great fun watching their machinations. The other weird thing as it’s the ‘90s none of the kids are glued to their cell phones, or firing off nasty emails or texts to each other, which means the cast have to work hard to keep the twisted plot moving.
Robert Kumble wrote and directed the 1999 movie, and co-authored the musical’s book, so if you love his celluloid version then you will most certainly enjoy the often droll stage version that keeps in the suspect attitudes to sexuality and consent that do date the piece. And if you don’t like the characters, or find the relentless sexual content a bit much, you’re bound to enjoy the soundtrack full of songs by REM, No Doubt, TLC, The Verve and the addition of a Spice Girls track.
This is the most unconvincing cast of teenagers since the original Grease movie, so if you can overcome that they are all having great fun with the endless bonking and covering some top tunes on Polly Sullivan’s big set that evokes Upper East Side money. Fresh from Les Misérables square jawed Will Callan is unlike some less handsome leading men believably louche as arch seducer Sebastian. He brings all that West End experience to a sensitive version of Goo Goo Doll’s Iris, and his duet on Torn with Abbie Budden’s Annette is full of emotional intelligence from both singers.
Nic Myers is magnetic as damaged cokehead Kathryn who is the amoral black heart of the show, belting out her big numbers Only When It Rains and Bitch. Newcomer Lucy Carter milks Ace of Base’s The Sign for big laughs as Cecile celebrates her sexual awakening, and Luke Conner Hall’s Blaine is just about on the right side of over the top camp.
Be warned this is certainly a show that needed an intimacy co-ordinator, but the high camp antics are entertaining, and despite being a little dated is full of all the high and lows of teenage lust.
Cruel Intentions The ‘90s Musical is at Leeds Grand until Saturday 10th May. To book 0113 2430808 or www.leedsheritagetheatres.com
Reviewer: Paul Clarke
Reviewed: 7th May 2025
North West End UK Rating: