It’s cool to be cruel this week at the Grand Opera House – as the new smash-hit musical Cruel Intentions stops in York on its first UK tour.
Following its recent New York and London success, this Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin and Roger Kumble creation brings a stage adaptation like no other, injecting the iconic 1999 original movie with a mixtape of 90’s classics.
Naughty nostalgia floods the script, and with a genius selection of musical offerings, there’s no doubt the audience were ready to don their backwards baseball caps or slip dresses and take a trip back in time.
Cruel Intentions is at Grand Opera House York from Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 February.
The checkerboard staging was the perfect emblem of the wicked games ready to be played as we were introduced to our complex characters. Step siblings Sebastian Valmont (Will Callan) and Kathryn Merteuil (Nic Myers) are the master puppeteers, spreading their lies, deceit and manipulation in return for their high-flying Manhattan reputation.
This web of lies includes the seduction of the new headmaster’s virtuous daughter Annette Hargrove (Abbie Budden), who reprises her role following the 2024 West End run. Budden brings a new pace to an otherwise fast-flowing production, appearing introspective in the presence of such confident company. As Budden enters, the ballads follow, including crowd pleasers such as Sixpence None The Richer’s ‘Kiss Me’ and Natalie Imbruglia’s ‘Torn’.
Sharing the stage and chemistry with Budden was our protagonist Sebastian (Will Callan) – a devilishly deceptive gentleman who craves a conquest until he bites off more than he can chew. Influencing and influenced by his step-sister Kathryn (Nic Myers) and her pathological perversion, they command the stage and the story however they choose to write it.
Callan and Myers’s characters may not be short of evil, but their portrayals and vocals were divine, leading the success of this production.
Also capturing the audience’s admiration were Luke Conner Hall as our camp companion Blaine Tuttle and Lucy Carter as the nutty-yet-naive Cecile Caldwell – both of which deserve strong recognition for their eccentric and all-encompassing portrayals. I don’t believe I will ever listen to the classics ‘I’ll Make Love to You’ and ‘Bye Bye Bye’ in the same way again after their full-throttle renditions.
Whilst the stage was simplistic it was certainly well utilised. I appreciated the clever choreography throughout, whether nods to 90’s boyband music videos or the smooth set changes allowing for seamless transitions; Gary Lloyd has done an excellent job, alongside director Jonathan O’Boyle.
If you’re looking for a mixtape to transport you back to your youth, or a salacious story-line to enjoy, take a trip to Grand Opera House York this week for this Bitter Sweet Symphony.
Cruel Intentions is at the Grand Opera House York until Saturday 22 February. Tickets start from £15 and are available online here.