Cruel Intentions Review

Stephen Higgs at the Hippodrome Birmingham 

The iconic movie set to the decade’s best songs is an irresistible combination, it’s the ultimate 90s night out at the Birmingham Hippodrome! 

Step siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil engage in a cruel bet: Kathryn goads Sebastian into attempting to seduce Annette Hargrove, the headmaster’s virtuous daughter. Weaving a web of secrets and temptation, their crusade wreaks havoc on the students at their exclusive Manhattan high school. 

We all know the film, the 1999 American teen romantic drama film which had a who who’s of 90’s film stars it in - Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair, and then your folks all remember Dangerous Liaisons with Glenn Close and John Malovich, and an amazon prime TV series, and now for 2025, it’s Juke Box musical Cruel Intentions, and it’s at the Hippodrome in town from Tuesday 3rd to Saturday 7th June.  

It’s Packed with ‘90s pop classics including the songs of Britney Spears, Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, TLC, R.E.M., Ace of Base, Natalie Imbruglia, *NSYNC and many more!

On Switch Radio Breakfast on Sunday we spoke to Lucy Carter who promised me a “whole lotta fun” She delivered on that promise. It's a whole lotta fun with a few drawbacks! 

The cast shines, with Will Callan’s Sebastian Valmont exuding charm and vulnerability, particularly in a stirring rendition of The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony.” Nic Myers as Kathryn Merteuil is deliciously devious, commanding the stage with poise. Abbie Budden’s Annette Hargrove, reprising her role from London, brings sincerity but feels underutilised. Lucy Carter and Gabriella Williams steal the show, and the ensemble, including Kevin Yates, and Luke Conner Hall adds zest to the high-school chaos.

The music—featuring hits like Britney Spears’ “Sometimes,” TLC’s “No Scrubs,” and *NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye”—is the heart of the show, seamlessly integrated to amplify the drama. And these songs don't seem forced into the show either. However, the plot falters, switching between campy comedy and uneven drama, diluting the film’s dark romance. The audience’s reaction when they recognise the songs being played sometimes deflects from the story being told. Key moments, like Sebastian’s climactic scene, seem rushed.

Polly Sullivan’s sleek set design and Gary Lloyd’s choreography evoke ‘90s flair, though some staging feels sparse. Despite its flaws, the Birmingham audience lapped up the nostalgia, with cheers for every familiar tune. It’s not perfect, but for a fun, throwback night out, Cruel Intentions delivers. Catch it at the Hippodrome for a dose of ‘90s chaos.

Cruel Intentions - The Musical plays at the Hippodrome until Saturday 7th and tickets are available here.