Cruel Intentions musical tour review

I decided on a whim to buy a ticket to see Cruel Intentions musical tour show at Oxford New Theatre. I’d never seen the film but did know the vague story. I’d seen mixed reviews of it when it was in the West End, but decided with my ATG+ card opening night discount, it was worth a punt.

The show felt it would be short with 50 and 55 minute acts, but it was a good length. It was good to see the theatre doors opening dead on 7 giving plenty of time to get to seats.  

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I found myself sitting next to another woman on their own, so we had a good chat before the show started about theatre and musicals which was nice. I don’t think I’ve ever been sat next to another ‘single’ person.

I do prefer the seating in the stalls for comfort but crikey they lean back a long way like in the cinema. Taller backs needed.  It turned out my seat mate had been asked to move to the stalls because they’d shut the dress circle. It seems they hadn’t sold many tickets – because it was busy in the stalls, but definitely nowhere near full. There were only 4 of us in our row of 15 on the righthand side.  

It’s such a shame for the performers. I do think shows should just go out and flog tickets cheap on the streets beforehand. Surely offering them for £5 or £10 would be worth getting some extra money in and extra bums on seats.

Cruel Intentions the musical

I’ve never seen the 1999 film Cruel Intentions, but knew the plot which is based on the French novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses.  

Step siblings Kathryn and Sebastian wager a bet for playboy Sebastian to bed their headmaster’s innocent daughter who was saving herself for love, as well as Kathryn getting back at an ex boyfriend with his more recent sweet attraction Cecile. The siblings don’t care whose lives and reputations they wreck in the process. Just for the sake of entertainment and proving themselves to each other for their own warped relationship. But it all ends up in secrets, temptation, and in the end love and tragedy.

The music is all 90s songs. It was great to hear blasts from my childhood past before the show started. I loved the dancing – some of it right from the 90s. Although I did get a bit obsessed with watching one of the dancers – he was probably the best dancer there, but just always seemed out of sync with the others timingwise. Hopefully it was just first night nerves.

The music included songs from Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, NSync, The Cardigans, The Verve, The Spice Girls, Natalie Imbruglia, Garbage and many others, so there was quite a mix of pop genres. There were 3 or 4 songs I didn’t recognise, but plenty I did and loved.

I did think some of the singing was a bit pitchy to start with, until the performers got going and into the show. A couple of the songs did feel a bit too forced into the story but it didn’t bother me too much. 

The cast starred Will Callan as Sebastian Valmont, Nic Myers as Kathryn Merteuil, Lucy Carter as Cecile Caldwell, and for the show we saw, Olivia Brookes was playing Annette Hargrove.

Nic playing Kathryn felt a bit too old to play a teenager until the final school scene.  But the other characters were slightly more believable. Always hard to get it right but it still worked for this story.

There was powerful singing from the step siblings and their slightly incestuous feelings and competitiveness to extremes were played well. Cecile’s voice was amazing once she was able to sing without her squeaky character voice as she felt herself becoming a woman. I could have listened to Sebastian’s voice all night (Iris was as beautiful as the original by Goo Goo Dolls). 

Having not seen the film I wasn’t sure how it would end. No happy ending but a comeuppance. Now it’s made me want to watch the film, or maybe even read the original book with my schoolgirl french.

Overall thoughts

If you’re thinking of taking younger teens to the Cruel Intentions Musical tour be aware the main theme is sex and seduction, plus there are drug references and swearing from the start. There’s a 15+ age limit recommendation.  Race themes and gay relationships also play a part bringing in a modern take. Maybe don’t take your Grandma with you unless she’s liberal.

I really enjoyed it. A jukebox musical, enthusiastic and unapologetic for what it’s about. And to top it off, it’s a bonus to have a mega mix for the end curtain calls. As I always say, more musicals should offer this.

The Cruel Intentions tour is running until the 28th June 2025 so there’s still a bit of time to see it.

If you’re a theatre goer with an ATG theatre near you, check out the ATG+ card, as it doesn’t take long to break even on the membership.