Cruel Intentions: The 90s musical is an opportunity for fun, an escape... and a reminder of the bad past
Playing an iconic character on stage that was so well portrayed by others in the film can come with a certain level of expectation.
However, Kirby Burgess, who plays Kathryn — in Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical — takes things in stride.
“Most people say, ‘Oh, you play Sarah Michelle Gellar,'” Burgess laughed.
Sarah Michelle Gellar played the cunning Kathryn in the 1999 film Cruel Intentions, based on the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons. The film, in turn, was inspired by the 1985 play Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which was adapted from the 1782 French novel of the same name.
“Sarah Michelle Gellar, herself, was a ’90s icon,” Burgess said.
“So stepping into his position, regardless of what role he plays is already quite a feat.
“But it’s also an honor. He did an amazing job with this role.”
In Kathryn, Burgess plays the villain. But he’s a fun villain.
“I think there’s a real challenge as an actor to win over an audience, even though they know you’re mean and mean and do bad things.”
He said audiences were able to see a side of Kathryn they might not be able to see in the film.
“I think audiences can see that, maybe, he’s not just a villain. He’s hurt. He’s devastated. He’s fighting against gender norms.”
Burgess is an old hand when it comes to Australian adaptations of big music productions, having played Baby in Dirty Dancing, Campbell in Bring It On and Rizzo in Grease.
“I would say that Rizzo is probably the closest thing to Kathryn,” Burgess said.
“He’s kind of – with no remorse – himself and sits in his sexuality with no remorse and also a villain for it.”
Producer, David Venn, said the stage production of Cruel Intentions was purely entertainment and should not be taken too seriously.
“Come to think of the storyline, these two characters dare to try [to] winning over other people and the things they achieve, and the level they go to get them, is outrageous as a concept.”
He says once you establish that you’re not going out for any serious drama, all that’s left to do is lean back and have fun.
The musical features songs from the movies — such as The Verve’s Bitter Sweet Symphony and TLC’s No Scrubs — but also hits from the ’90s including Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer.
Venn said the ’90s were like no other period.
“There was so much iconic stuff in the … inflatable furniture that came out at the time, which was just ridiculous. Loose jeans with chains hanging in pockets and purses. Hairstyles,” says Venn.
“There are a lot of big celebrities [who] out of the 90’s too. Even now, Britney Spears is still in our media. His big rise was during the 90’s.
“90s fashion is also back today where you take a walk, or go to the shops, and all the 90s fashion trends are back again.
Burgess wants people to remember that something else has changed since the 1990s.
He says the musical is a nod to how far we’ve come, and how we need to learn from the past, and make a real effort to keep improving.
“Not only were there a lot of very uncomfortable sexual encounters on the show, but there was a display of homophobia, racism,” Burgess said.
“And, if you’re sitting in the audience feeling a little uncomfortable with a few lines or some of the action being shown, then good for you, you’ve come a long way from the ’90s, because it was so casually cast back then. And that wasn’t that long ago.
“And we’ve come a long way to now sit in the audience and say, ‘Oh, that’s okay’.
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There’s still time to see a musical in Sydney. Then Cruel Intentions went to Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra. You can find out more here.
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