Theatre Royal Brighton – Tuesday 24th – Saturday 28th June 2025
5 stars
Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical has arrived at Theatre Royal Brighton, bringing with it an avalanche of teen drama, nostalgia and 90s bangers.
Inspired by the 1999 cult film of the same name, which itself reimagined Les Liaisons Dangereuses for the world of Upper East Side teenagers, this stage show fully embraces its origins with an unapologetic blend of scandal and pop. And it’s just too fun to resist.
The story centres on privileged step-siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil, who concoct a morally questionable wager. Sebastian must seduce the virtuous Annette, the daughter of their school’s new headteacher. As their manipulations play out in the corridors of a wealthy Manhattan prep school, innocence is lost and secrets unravel.
The plot is delivered through a relentless stream of 1990s pop classics, performed live with infectious enthusiasm. From Christina Aguilera’s Genie in a Bottle to TLC’s No Scrubs, the soundtrack lives in guilty pleasure territory and is all the better for it. While some songs are shoehorned in without much regard for plot coherence, others land with surprising emotional weight.
Nic Myers is magnetic as Kathryn, oozing venom with a smirk and delivering vocals that cut through the camp with clarity and control. Will Callan makes for a convincing Sebastian in look and voice, though at times lacks the darker charisma the role demands.
Abbie Budden shines as Annette, her performance of Colourblind offering one of the few genuinely heartfelt moments of the night.
Lucy Carter is a comedic gem as Cecile, stealing scenes with impeccable timing and a wonderfully goofy rendition of I’ll Make Love To You. Praise also to Luke Connor Hall and Joe Simmons, as Blaine and Greg, for bringing some of the biggest laughs of the evening.
The ensemble provides solid support throughout, with seriously slick choreography, superbly executed.
While not always tonally consistent, the production is fast-paced, vibrant and knowingly ridiculous. It never aims for subtlety but instead leans confidently into its outrageous premise.
Production photo credit: Pamela Raith
