Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical - The Other Palace / Tour

[Afriley]

Feb 5, 2024 0:08:49 GMT kit66 said:

Feb 4, 2024 18:45:55 GMT Being Alive said:

How are they nearly a month into this and understudies aren't ready?

I always thought understudies were rehearsed at the same time as the principle cast even if they were only at the rehearsals to observe?And don't understudies go on during the preview period to give them a "crack of the whip" in front of a live audience?

Not always tbh: some productions do cover runs etc later into the run. I assume this is what happened as Verity was clearly in process of being rehearsed for the role but not 100% ready yet.

I agree it’s less than ideal of course - illnesses and injuries can happen any time.

[Being Alive]

Feb 5, 2024 6:33:33 GMT danb said:

Feb 4, 2024 22:19:58 GMT Being Alive said:

Jonathan's been around long enough to know that doesn't wash as an answer - you're a month in, covers for your leads should be rehearsed. Sorry but i genuinely don't understand why people keep supporting Paul Taylor Mills when he does this sort of stuff all the time - it's beyond unprofessional.

I don’t think he has anything to do with Cruel Intentions does he?

Possible - I just always assume that with Paul running TOP that he's involved with some of these decisions.

[thedriftersgirl]

This show has just been confirmed to be extending, for another 5 weeks until 19 May :-)

[thedriftersgirl]

Verity covering Rhianne tonight.

[lewjohnny96]

Feb 5, 2024 8:00:16 GMT Afriley said:

Feb 5, 2024 0:08:49 GMT kit66 said:

I always thought understudies were rehearsed at the same time as the principle cast even if they were only at the rehearsals to observe?And don't understudies go on during the preview period to give them a "crack of the whip" in front of a live audience?

Not always tbh: some productions do cover runs etc later into the run. I assume this is what happened as Verity was clearly in process of being rehearsed for the role but not 100% ready yet.

I agree it’s less than ideal of course - illnesses and injuries can happen any time.

I don't know how each show operates on an individual basis, but my friend has covered in numerous shows and sometimes she hasn't had any official rehearsals until after their press night. Personally, I think it makes total sense to have everyone ready at the same time, but maybe they just don't have enough time to rehearse a whole cast and an entire cast of understudies at the same time? Especially with a new show they're creating from scratch  

[darreno]

I caught this on Saturday night and it was an enjoyable show.

Very strange being in the Other Palace and it NOT being Heathers. The audience absolutely loved it though, very, very well received.

Jukebox musicals generally don't do it for me, but the combination of a theatre with such a great feeling (to me) and anything 90s sold me!

No weak cast members at all, it doesn't take itself seriously at all, but also isn't completely 'wink, wink, nudge, nudge' either.

I'd catch it again, but probably only if I was at a loose end or if it extends far enough to get a cast change, or to see some understudies.

Audience reaction was certainly very positive though.

[Steve]

Saw today's matinee, for the second time, and had an absolute ball!

Verity Thompson was on as Kathryn Merteuil.

Some spoilers follow. . .

I was looking for something cheap and entertaining to fill the matinee slot, so booked "Bronco Billy" last minute for £15 with Todaytix, then promptly got an email it was cancelled at 11am. So I traded the credit for this more expensive Rush show, which Rush was still open, and was charged an extra £9.05 (I guess Todaytix threw me an extra pound as commiseration for the cancellation lol).

Verity Thompson was a fantastic Kathryn! While her belt is modulated and magnificent, it isn't as thrilling as the main Kathryn's, but her performance more than made up for this: she was the T1000 upgrade of sly amoral evil, slinking around like the snake-like Jodie Steele in Heathers, but with more considered maturity, making her seem even more malevolent.

Since all these teen shows are basically bonding morality lessons for the target audience, her slow-building, dark and absolute commitment to Garbage's "I'm only happy when it rains" and Melissa Etheridge's "Im the Only One" really raise the stakes of Valmont's drama, and the importance of the lesson: "Don't be Evil" lol.

As Valmont, Daniel Bravo's distinctive bravura swagger means he remains the West End's most likely future casting as a Prince in a Hallmark movie or a secretly psychopathic boyfriend in a Lifetime movie, but the shocking sudden tenderness he shows in Counting Crows's "Colorblind" (my favourite moment in the show) suggests the former is more likely than the latter lol.

Anyway, the 90s numbers are banging and so brilliantly integrated into the plot, all sounding like either dialogue or monologue, and not the pointless performance of plot-unrelated time-wasters you get in something like Cilla the Musical.

Rose Galbraith and Josh Barnett remain a hoot as the comedy characters, with Galbraith's laugh-out-loud hilarious rendition of Ace of Base's "I Saw the Sign" also serving to remind its target audience that sex is pretty silly, and not to get too het up about it lol.

Abbie Budden, as the unattainable religious Sarah-Brown-from-Guys-and-Dolls-like object of Valmont's desire has developed some terrific chemistry with Bravo, and I found myself tearing up from Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" onwards, "Colorblind" being the pinnacle of emotion, despite knowing that nothing in a show like this can possibly be taken seriously.

I hadn't planned to see the show again, but I'm delighted to report it's in damn fine shape for a jukebox teen show, and I'd give it 4 stars now.

[capybara]

I am usually totally opposed to jukebox musicals and, in some ways, I was quickly reminded why. Nothing jars with me more than a scene suddenly being interrupted by a random pop song that wasn’t written for the story being crowbarred in.

However, Cruel Intentions has an outstanding score. Where else in London could you see a show that features Placebo and not just one but two songs from No Doubt? Spoiler: there is nowhere else.

It is great fun and super trashy. But it knows it is. The story… I mean, it’s pretty mad but you kind of just have to go along with it. I must admit I’m now intrigued to see the cult film.

We were treated to Verity Thompson covering Kathryn. I’d previously been a little underwhelmed by her vocals as Chandler on the Heathers tour but the intimacy of The Other Palace really worked in her favour. She was fantastic vocally and made the role her own. Rose Galbraith was incredible as Cecile as well and definitely gets the biggest laughs as she comes out of her shell.

It’s a really talented cast, going all out. It’s quite small-scale so don’t expect production levels to match the likes of & Juliet - but it doesn’t matter because Cruel Intentions is infinitely more enjoyable.

It’s three stars from me. Which, I think, is pretty good going for a jukebox musical. It’s not going to rock your world but it’s something I’d revisit on another rainy afternoon if it continues to extend its stay.

[mattnyc]

I had a great time tonight. Full cast was in, which was nice and they're pretty great. I wish this had an original score, though. The songs used are tons of fun and everyone loves them but they only ever TRULY fit in with the story maybe 10% or so of the time and when they start singing a song for absolutely no reason having anything to do with the scene it comes off as insanely lazy. Again, I had a great time overall and would totally see this again but I just wish they would have put a bit more effort into it.

[bigredapple]

Matinee today

This was dreadful. Genuinely hated it

[westendgirls]

I was at the matinee today and really enjoyed it. Not seen the film for a few years but a lot of the script sounded familiar so it was definitely a lift directly from the film

I did laugh at the “original Katherine” put your phone off announcement at the start of the show. Kudos that they got Sarah Michelle Geller to do this - either it was her or it was a great sound a like

Will definitely go back before it ends. Could see it transferring to somewhere like the Arts Theatre if it gets kicked out of TOP. Think it would get lost in anything bigger than that. It would do well on a tour as well I think

[properjob]

I remembered really liking this at the Edinburgh Fringe and so was really keen to see this again.

After the first half I didn't love it and wondered if it hadn't translated from a Fringe show well but the second act was much better.

I agree with other posters that the music is wedged in. I think the 2nd act may have worked better because the song choices were funnier and it is better when it is a bit more knowing.

I'm very glad I've seen it and if I'm in London on a Sunday again I might well catch it again. I don't expect it to gather any Olivier nominations but it is good fun if you are the right age group.

I was surprised to see so many younger people in the audience but I don't expect it to become the next Heathers.

[unseaworthy]

Are we genuinely expected to laugh along with a teenage girl being tricked into loosing her virginity? Horrible.

[Seriously]

Well they laugh at murders, attempted suicide, and gay dads in Heathers.

[properjob]

There's plenty of similar things in other shows e.g. Book of Mormon. There are murders in Wicked. People being seduced under dubious circumstances in Ground Hog Day. The recent version of Oklahoma showed up how dark some bits are which are normally played for laughs.

Given the ultimate source material of the novel it shouldn't be a surprise.

[danb]

Shows about people behaving normally and nicely to each other, without conflict, are really interesting. 🙄 If there are visible consequences for wrong doing I can’t really see the problem.

[Seriously]

Exactly.

[danb]

If my memory of ‘Les Liasons Dangereuse’ serve me well neither Valmont nor Merteuil have happy endings? He dies and she gets smallpox!

[musicalslive]

Are there any discounts for the last weekend of this show?

[djdan14]

Looks like this is going on tour - just announced for Manchester - the palace of all places!

[marob]

Thought it would probably tour. Never did get to see it in London. Not sure how much of an audience there is for it though.

[stevej678]

Jul 24, 2024 14:19:54 GMT djdan14 said:

Looks like this is going on tour - just announced for Manchester - the palace of all places!

Shame about the choice of venue. The Quays Theatre at The Lowry would have been a much better fit.

[LaLuPone]

It’s also doing the New Wimbledon, will probably be like when I saw a Friday matinee of Heathers there and the FOH team offered the 300 of us that had actually bought tickets to all move to the front stalls!

[benny20]

Jul 24, 2024 14:19:54 GMT djdan14 said:

Looks like this is going on tour - just announced for Manchester - the palace of all places!

Is that going to sell there??

[wefox]

I loved this at The Other Palace, but don’t know if I would like it as much with a different cast. Daniel Bravo was such a perfect Sebastian! Will keep an eye on this though…it is great fun