Theatre Review: "Cruel Intentions - the 90s musical" at the Broadway Playhouse (Chicago, IL)

   

      On the evening of April 12th, 2019, I saw a performance of "Cruel Intentions- the 90s musical" at the Broadway Playhouse in Chicago, IL.  This was after winning the ticket lottery for the show the night before.  The production starred Jeffrey Kringer as Sabastian Valmont and Taylor Pearlstein as Kathryn Merteuil.  The cast also featured John Battagliese (Greg McConnell), Richard Crandle (Ronald Clifford), Dara Orland (Mrs. Bunny Caldwell), Brooke Singer (Cecile Caldwell), Betsy Stewart (Annette), and David Wright (Blaine Tuttle).  This production of "Cruel Intentions"  was a National Tour, and ran from March 29th to June 2nd, 2019.  The Chicago Engagement at the Broadway Playhouse was the third stop of the National Tour, and ran from April 2nd through 14th, 2019.  

     "Cruel Intentions - the 90s musical" featured music by Christina Aguilera, *NSYNC, REM, Mick Jagger, Gwen Stefani, Melissa Etheridge, TLC, Jewel, and more.  This musical also ran off-Broadway in New York, where it performed from November 17th, 2017 through April 8th, 2018 at (Le) Poisson Rouge.  I'm not sure about the Off-Broadway production, but the National Tour featured scenic design by Jason Sherwood.

  

      The scenic design for this production included a black chaise made of faux leather.  For my birthday in 2020, I needed some new furniture for my apartment to replace two recliners I impulsively threw out.  So my mom surprised me by ordering me a black chaise made of faux leather from Wal-Mart.  It looked exactly like the chaise from the National Tour of "Cruel Intentions."  

         While this production was awfully short-lived, I'm not surprised that the tour closed after only a few months.  It surprised me that the tour would only stop at cities like Schenectady for a day of two of performances prior to traveling to the next tour stop.  When the reviews said the show was sold out wherever if went, I think they were referring to the one to two day tour stops of this non-equity tour.    I remember reading somewhere that the Los Angeles engagement of "Cruel Intentions" was sold out.  Later on I looked up the tour stops of "Cruel Intentions" on Internet Broadway Database, and there was no mention of a Los Angeles tour stop.  I eventually found a playbill.com article that seemed to clarify that there was a Los Angeles production of the show which had sold out.  I could understand that.  This show seemed like it could be one of those "love to hate" shows.  

     

    

      On the one hand, this show was enjoyable because you didn't have to think too hard while watching it.  On the other hand, it seemed like the cast was just reenacting the scenes from the "Cruel Intentions" film while breaking into song every so often.  That was probably the reason thinking hard wasn't a requirement while watching the show.  Yet I think a lot of Broadway shows, and maybe some off-Broadway shows, are like that.  With the exception of the occasional "emotional powerhouse" play or musical, going to the theatre can be a great opportunity to leave your worries and cares at the door.  That is harder than it sounds.  It really sounds like I'm giving unsolicited theatre-going advice to the reader.  At least I stopped short of giving stock tips.  

 

The North American Tour cast of "Cruel Intentions - the 90's musical" (photo by Jenny Anderson).

     The North American Tour schedule of "Cruel Intentions: the 90s musical" was as follows:  March 29th, 2019 at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, NY; March 30th, 2019 at The Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence, RI; April 2nd through 14th, 2019 at Broadway Playhouse in Chicago, IL; April 16th, 2019 at Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, TX; April 18th, 2019 at Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts in Louisville, KY; April 20th, 2019 at Byham Theater in Pittsburgh, PA; April 23rd, 2019 at Miller Theater in Augusta, GA; April 24th, 2019 at Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, NC; April 25th through 27th, 2019 at Mcglohon Theatre in Charlotte, NC; May 1st, 2019 at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD; May 4th, 2019 at Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Worcester, MA; May 9th, 2019 at Victoria Theatre in Newark, NJ; May 10th through 11th, 2019 at Bushnell in Hartford, CT; May 14th, 2019 at Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, FL; May 15th, 2019 at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, GA; May 16th through 18th, 2019 at Terry Theater in Jacksonville, FL; May 19th, 2019 at Cold Springs City Centre at Cold Springs, FL; May 22nd through 26th, 2019 at AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, TX; and May 29th through June 2nd, 2019 at Perelman Theater in Philadelphia, PA.  

      On March 8th, 2019, a cast recording of the Off-Broadway company of "Cruel Intentions: the 90s musical" was released.  Also in March of 2019, the film version of "Cruel Intentions" celebrated its 20th anniversary.  Just about every song from the musical made it on to the cast recording.  Although, I noticed that the Marcy Playground song, "Sex and Candy," was not on the cast recording.  In the show, it was sung by Greg McConnell and Blaine Tuttle.  It's still a decent, yet indecent, cast recording.  Click HERE to listen to the Original off-Broadway cast recording of "Cruel Intentions: the 90s musical."