Review: Cruel Intentions The 90’s Musical At The Wales Millennium Centre
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Cruel Intentions The 90’s Musical Is At The Wales Millennium Centre Until The 31st Of May
Image: Pamela Raith Photography
Last night, Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical opened at Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre with every neon-soaked cliche you could hope for. As someone who hadn’t seen the original 1999 film, I was unprepared for its deliciously camp tone but be warned: this is emphatically NOT a family outing. Between the steamy seduction plots and ritzy, borderline risqué choreography, under‑16s may feel a little lost in this candy‑coloured whirlwind.
At the heart of the show are step‑siblings Sebastian Valmont (Will Callan) and Kathryn Merteuil (Nic Myers), a pair whose electric chemistry crackles through every scene. Callan’s portrayal of Sebastian is absolutely brilliant, portraying the vibe and energy of your typical smug playboy archetype throughout, at the start, we felt you could almost compare him to Patrick Bateman in ‘American Psycho’ in the sense he treats emotion as a transaction token rather than a genuine connection, yet, as the story unfolds we learn that this is not the case as we see Callan peel back Sebastian’s confident exterior to reveal a vulnerability hidden beneath the bravado. Myers, meanwhile, rules the stage like a venomous queen bee literally every time she’s on stage, only to peel back her own armour in a surprisingly poignant turn during the show’s climax.
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Image: Pamela Raith Photography
Opposite them, Abbie Budden’s Annette Hargrove shines as the moral compass everyone wants to break. Then there’s Lucy Carter’s Cecile Caldwell, whose hilarious innocence and impeccable comedic timing steal every scene she’s in.
Jennifer Weber’s choreography and the ’90s hit list are tied seamlessly into the show’s cheeky humour, with the placement of each song and dance routine adding so much to the show. What elevates the show even further is its jukebox magic. Jam packed full of hits that will have you toe tapping throughout the show, think hits like “Genie in a Bottle”, “Bye Bye Bye” and “Bitter Sweet Symphony”, just to name a few. The show’s finale featured a fantastic megamix of hits which gave the audience a carnival-esque send‑off that had everyone up on their feet, clapping along!
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Despite knowing nothing of the original film, the story never felt hollow. It’s not a serious show, and it knows it, so moments of humour sit comfortably alongside some of the darker twists, making for a bit of a roller‑coaster.
We’ve given this a full five stars because for us, it delivers on every theatrical front: it’s the laugh out loud kind of hilarious, it’s super camp and full of cheekiness; it’s undeniably sexy; and it’s a masterclass in jukebox storytelling, putting ’90s anthems into a narrative that doesn’t miss a single beat. If you crave a night of pure escapism that celebrates both pop‑culture nostalgia and high‑voltage entertainment, Cruel Intentions delivers five‑star perfection.
Whether you’re a die‑hard fan of the film or are simply just a fan of 90’s music, this production at the Wales Millennium Centre is definitely a worth seeing, just don’t bring your kids.
