This week, Theatre Correspondent Peter Kemp was at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre for Cruel Intentions the Musical, based on Les Liaisons Dangereuses from the novel written by Pierre Choderios de Laclos in 1782.
The story of the musical is where we enter the manipulative world of Manhattan’s most dangerous liaisons: Sebastian Valmont and Katherine Merteuil. Fuelled by revenge and passion, the diabolically charming stepsiblings place a bet on whether or not Sebastian can deflower their incoming headmaster’s daughter.
The production is magnificent theatre. The show was sparkling, Music very good, lighting a good standard and overall, a very interesting evening of theatre.
The performers were outstanding with Kirby Burgess as Kathy Merteuil giving an outrageous and sterling performance. Her stepbrother, Sebastian Valmont, played by Drew Weston, dominated the stage in his scenes, catching the fine nuances of such a character. The other players lived up to the standard set by these two giving an interesting evening of theatre.
The show had a standing ovation, well deserved by such a production, but one would not recommend it to the over 50s as it is definitely a show for the younger generation and Sir Arthur Rylah would not approve.
The 1812 Theatre presents The Shorehorn Sonata
In 1945 Sheila and Birdie were freed from a Japanese POW camp.
Now after a half-century separation, the filming of a TV documentary forces them to relive the past. Woven into the 50 years of separation are a shoe-horn and the threads of loyalty and love which form their uncommon bond.
Season: March 23 – April 22.
