aOn the heels of the hit sour bubblegum musical based on “Heathers,'' “The Other Palace'' presents another super-quote film adaptation about high school damage. This jukebox show was first performed in the United States about 10 years ago, and is a co-production with Roger Kumble, in his 1999 production of Pierre Choderrosd's “Proposal'' from his Laclos novel “Dangerous Liaisons.'' It's a strict adaptation of his film.
Cruel Intentions' tale of betrayal, privilege, and the cherry on top of an Upper East Side teen has a soundtrack that ends with Placebo's Every You Every Me and Verve's Bitter Sweet Symphony. It was included. These songs, along with Counting Crows' Colorblind, are reused in the same scenes in the film. The mix includes hits from No Doubt, TLC, and Ace of Base (The Sign Goes to Orgasm), plus snippets of Dawson's Humming His Clique theme.
The company's “Placebo'' opener has a somewhat doom-laden feel, with many of the songs serving comedic or romantic purposes. The lyrics often match the characters and story perfectly. When Kathryn (Marquise de Merteuil of Laclos) makes a bet with her brother-in-law Sebastian (Viscount Valmont), they end up diving into Christina Aguilera's Genie in a Bottle, whose lewd anxiety reflects the incestuous desires of In the film, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe had a slick, languid relationship, but Jonathan O'Boyle's direction had a tendency to rush through scenes and throw away lines, including one where Sebastian was asked if he was going to go anywhere. It also includes Kathryn's promise, “But you'll let me in.'' bed.
First, Sebastian has to seduce the bachelor Annette, and also pursues the young Cecil. In one of the film's most troubling scenes, he blackmails Cecil by spiking her drink, then forces her to perform oral sex on him. In the musical, she is still unknowingly drinking and blackmailed, but the script includes an agreeable response to his proposal. This is one of the few times the show half-fixes the actions in the movie. Although Sebastian calls out Cecil's mother's racism (also lampooned through her performance in No Scrubs), the ableist and homophobic slurs in the film go unchecked. ing.
The song, created by Kumble, Jordan Ross and Lindsey Rosin, is performed on a hyperactive revolving stage with pop choreography by Gary Lloyd. When the 24 songs are sped up, sporadically combined, like this awkward mashup of REM's “Losing My Religion” and Meredith Brooks' “Bitch,” the high school girls look like they came from a Britney Spears video. It feels like you're bouncing around music video channels. Along with the performance of Just a Girl. But Garbage's “Only Happy When It Rains'' is a smart sidekick to Placebo, and Natalie Imbruglia's “Torn Up'' deftly reflects the shame felt by Sebastian and Annette.
Polly Sullivan's design has a dartboard-style floor and uses candelabra and school crests to combine the story's origins, but it lacks the seductive sheen and Sebastian's outfit looks cheap. Kathryn's costumes are better, and Lianne-Louise McColski is sensational in the role, oozing class with just a little toss of her hair. McCorsky is well matched by Daniel Bravo, whose wavy curls are reminiscent of Philip, while Abby Budden (Annette) and Rose Galbraith (Cecil) make charming professional debuts, and Josh Barnett and Bernie Wilkinson strengthens the film's gay relationships. Nikkolia King-Nda and Jess Babby complete the cast, and their confidence elevates a spirited musical that can't quite reconcile the film's toxicity.
