Cruel Intentions The ‘90s Musical Party isn’t your average musical experience.
For starters, when visiting Melbourne’s Alex Theatre, patrons are scanned in and are given a wristband (or not) depending on their ticketing tier. Before the show, there are two photo walls where you can pose, snap and share it to your heart’s content. Who needs to attend on an opening night when there’s a photo wall throughout the show’s run?
If you’re a VIP patron, there’s a dedicated section for lounging and sipping your favourite beverage before your excited host attempts to get the party started. A young woman climbs up to tower above the attendees to hype up the room. We’re made to play games (for some, against our will) before entering the theatre. There are only two games, one consisting of a dance challenge with no real clear winner or prizes, the other game being able to freeze on command. Admittedly, I felt awkward and wasn’t comfortable to join in the fun as I was too busy stressing about where I would sit. Yes, I’m that theatre person who comes in early and wants to get a good spot in the venue if it’s general admission.
Before we’re let in, patrons are advised to enter at different times depending on your tier. There isn’t exactly a specific spot in the theatre for each ticketing tier, more so that one class gets first pickings before the next tier follows and so on.
Entering the theatre space, there are characters dressed in school uniform in their related cliques. This is meant to be an immersive experience with cast members dashing through the aisles (sometimes crawling through them), so the further back you are seated, the better it is so that you don’t miss a thing. I was seated in row K of the stalls at the Alex Theatre, however anything there and behind back to row S are great spots to see the whole show.
It’s not very clear how the event is a party atmosphere. Like most theatre shows, we’re advised not to film or take photos throughout the performance. Also granted, I attended a matinee session on a Saturday and most attendees were quietly respectful in their seats, with only a few patrons singing and unfortunately others rudely talking through the show.
During the musical’s number of Deep Blue Something’s ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s’ there is a moment where a cast member brings out a sign Love Actually movie style to display some of the lyrics to encourage patrons to sing along, but that was the only moment where audience participation was clear. When the show concluded and music blared of Backstreet Boys’ ‘Backstreets Back’ which was turned up to encourage fans to dance, I witnessed a group of ladies try to dance with cast members or attempt to take to the stage themselves, only to be discouraged by an usher that quickly stopped them, all the while the cast members formed a conga line to exit stage right.
Now, minus the very confusing and not very clear immersive part of this experience, the cast and production are great. Cruel Intentions is a nostalgic, chaotic, and wild emotional rollercoaster, adapted from the 1999 film of the same name, which in turn is a modern retelling of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 novel ‘Les Liaisons dangereuses’. The musical is in a jukebox musical format with 90s songs helping to tell the story of love and manipulative games between rich American private school students. Okay, not really that relatable characters but considering the drama we witness, it’s entertaining as hell.
Sebastian Valmont played by Conor Putland is a master seducer who considers his sexual conquests as challenges and potential wins to raise up higher his already rebellious reputation. Complaining to his stepsister Katheryn Merteuil played by Grace Liang (who also doubled as our brief party host earlier), the pair make a bet. If Sebastian can successfully woo the innocent Annette Hargrove, their upcoming school principal’s daughter, Sebastian can sleep with Katheryn, the one he really wants. Otherwise, Katheryn gets Sebastian’s rare vintage car.
Conor Putland is an excellent Sebastian, injecting the perfect balance of confidence and humility as the character changes throughout the show. Shining especially during Sebastian’s solo to the Goo Goo Dolls’ ‘Iris’, Putland is vocally fantastic, also visually stunning thanks to the gorgeously timed purple lighting which only helped to enhance Putland’s powerful performance. Putland also has great chemistry with Grace Liang’s Katheryn.
Grace Liang is a ferocious queen as the cunning and manipulative Katheryn. Liang already has a sweet voice and sunny disposition, but when she puts on the unyielding sass, irresistible devilish charm, and vicious determination that makes Katheryn who she is, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Not to mention, her vocals are insane! Liang knocks Melissa Etheridge’s ‘I’m The Only One’ out of the park like it’s her own.
Now, Kelsey Halge was in the previous professional Australian productions of Cruel Intentions during 2022 and 2023 which toured Australia nationally and had Halge playing Annette Hargrove in her professional debut. Although Halge has reprised the role as the iconic character and has clearly grown vocally, evident in her performance of Jewel’s ‘Foolish Games’ where she arrests the room with her powerful performance. Unfortunately, having played the character before two years earlier, Halge somehow doesn’t really offer anything new. This doesn’t mean that Halge is bad per se, she’s not. I just expected more growth, considering she has played the character before.
Belle Parkinson is so refreshing as Cecile Cauldwell. Although I can’t stand the character in the film, Parkinson’s Cecile had patrons laughing in the aisles. Parkinson is a natural, funny, and honestly, it’s hard not to love her during every moment she’s in the room.
Kobe Brown’s Ronald is a dorkier version than the cool smooth one we’ve come to know, and it’s different. More of a side piece love interest for both Cecile and Katheryn, Brown only really has the chance to show off Ronald’s stance and style during TLC’s ‘No Scrubs’ opposite Crystal Hegedis’ Mrs Cauldwell. Hegedis does get her own solo that she aces during Shania Twain’s ‘Man, I Feel Like a Woman’, but both make the best with what little stage time they have.
While Parkingson and Brown sound good together and have great chemistry during their characters’ love confession moment to ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s’, I must confess that I was far too distracted by the cast members that were running up and down the aisle and blowing bubbles during the song.
James Elmer and Jacob Rozario make a wonderful queer pair as Greg and Blaine, often stealing the show due to having arguably the best songs in the show including NSYNC’s ‘Bye Bye Bye’ accompanied by excellent choreography that’s a clever nod to NSYNC’s ‘Bye Bye Bye’ music video, and Britney Spears’ ‘Sometimes’. Elmer’s facial expressions spoke volumes even when he didn’t have any lines, while Rozario’s Blaine shone as a sly fox who really just wants his significant other to hurry up and get out of the closer so that they can have more fun together. Rozario’s powerful vocals also stunned, with Elmer and Rozario being the crowd-favourite and most convincing couple of the show.
The direction and choreography are mostly fantastic, and I always appreciate when a production makes full use of the aisles. I was cackling when Putland’s Conor and Liang’s Katheryn were hiding in the aisles, Putland amusingly standing and staring at the wall while spying, even crawling on the floor at my feet at one point. However, when the cast members were on stage and in the aisles, with everyone is moving all at once, it became a bit overwhelming, overstimulating and confusing on where exactly you’re meant to look. Even when you’re seated further back to try take in the whole view.
The set, although not changing, is perfectly Cruel Intentions, with the movable staircase helping to provide climaxes at pinnacle moments throughout the production. The excellent lighting only made the visuals of Cruel Intentions more wonderful and whoever is behind this role needs to be commended. The costuming is also great: cute, modern yet nostalgic, making the most of the colour purple and all its hues. Although, the audio could be improved. Some cast members sounded louder or clearer than others, sadly giving the illusion that a selection of the cast were over singing when they actually were not.
Overall, Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical Party is an interesting attempt at an immersive experience that I’m certain would go off on Friday and Saturday nights with the right audience, but not much else. Don’t get me wrong, I adore the musical. I even like the stage production more than the movie. This new production of Cruel Intentions in its party format can be a lot of fun with its talented cast clearly enjoying themselves on stage, accompanied with the best 90s songs. I also was very grateful to be able to see Cruel Intentions on stage again, but that doesn’t excuse nor make this immersive experience any less weird.
Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical Party is currently on in Melbourne until March 16th at Alex Theatre.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://cruelintentions.com.au
Photography by Nicole Cleary.
