As Sebastian in Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical, Drew Weston has been turning heads as the tight-tee and jeans wearing bad boy. But the actor is anything but. In fact, he’s the perfect poster boy!
Anyone who lived through the Nineties would know Cruel Intentions, the modern-day movie version of the classic 1782 French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses (which also became that other film Dangerous Liaisons).
Cruel Intentions starred Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Michelle Gellar in a complex plot involving two stepsiblings who gamble on whether the stepbrother, handsome jock Sebastian, can deflower their new headmaster’s daughter. It’s a story of manipulation, passion, sex and er … yes, love.
Kirby Burgess, Drew Weston and Kelsey Halge
The jukebox musical version follows the same story, making use of many classic songs from the era, including those by Ace of Base, Garbage, Britney Spears and The Verve.
“I say that things are ‘gay’ where obviously that wouldn’t be said today. That kind of storyline is a real awakening.”
For Drew Weston, playing Sebastian is certainly a win. Who wouldn’t want the role of a high school hunk? But as the actor discovered it’s a complex role. After all, this isn’t just a coming-of-age story, but a sexually charged one at that.
“It’s a whole sexual awakening for a lot of people,” says Weston.
“When the film came out, it was very risqué and crude. We currently have the television series Euphoria, which is also set in a high school and very in-your-face with its similar sexual awakenings.”
Of course, a story involving teenagers is bound to carry its culture, and considering this was the Nineties, it’s an era not particularly great in terms of political correctness.
“Some of my closest mates are actors such as Matt Backer, Stephen Madsen and Tim Draxl. They’re glorious humans both inside and out.”
“Because we play homage to the film, there are moments where the show is quite problematic for this day and age,” says Weston.
Drew Weston plays Sebastian in Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical
“But it’s a good thing that twenty years later, people can now realise that it’s actually not politically correct, and certainly not how we should be viewing things now. The story deals with racism and sexuality in a lot of the dialogue. For instance, I say that things are ‘gay’ where obviously that wouldn’t be said today. But in the late Nineties it was definitely a thing, and I don’t think we should take away from that, because that era is really now a period piece! Those moments are iconic in the film, and I think that kind of storyline is a real awakening.”
“I had a long romance for about eight years. I lived in Vancouver, and he was in Seattle, though it wasn’t quite Sleepless in Seattle!”
For Weston, researching his role included a usual character breakdown, but it also meant going to the original blueprint source – the 1999 movie.
“I watched the film because once I got the role, I realised I hadn’t actually seen it,” says Weston.
“I was around ten when it came out so didn’t really get the chance. But I knew its pop culture references, like the kiss in the park and pool scene,” he says.
“After talking with Kirby Burgess who plays Kathryn, we decided to pay homage to the film, but to still bring our own idiosyncrasies to the characters. I also watched Dangerous Liaisons and discovered that when the novel came out in the 1700’s it was banned from the public. There were stories about how that kind of world and behaviour from the hierarchy led toward the French Revolution.”
After finishing high school, and spending his gap year travelling Europe, Weston attended the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2007. Afterwards he landed roles such as Curly in Oklahoma! and covering Bert the chimney sweep in Mary Poppins.
“I wear a cock-sock and I didn’t even know what that was!”
“To graduate and jump straight into a Disney/Cameron Mackintosh production was pretty wild, but a great learning curve,” he says.
“After graduating you’re still very green, but you learn on the job about the protocols and how the industry works. It’s a huge stepping-stone. Understudying Bert was a favourite of mine and I also got to play Sandy Tyrell in Hay Fever at the Melbourne Theatre Company. I love Noel Coward’s work. I worked with Simon Gleeson and we were very silly together on and off stage. He has a very wicked sense of humour!”
But the actor’s dramatics began much earlier than that, in the Melbourne suburb of Eltham, where his family’s roots were firmly entrenched in theatre.
“I’m the youngest of four coming from a very theatrical and musical family,” he says.”
Drew Weston in a seductive scene with Kirby Burgess
“It’s in the blood. In fact, we get called the ‘Weston Von Trapp family’! My mum and dad met through their local Parish theatre in Annie Get Your Gun. Dad was the organiser and asked mum to be the lead. It’s very cute! My older sister is a composer, performer, and music teacher and my two older brothers also got involved with music, especially guitar. So, I’m the family’s youngest thespian!”
Once entrenched in the professional world of theatre, Weston also discovered his people – a diverse and colourful world which to a young gay man, would be greeted with open arms.
“It’s a very nonchalant and accepting world,” he says,
“I love the work too, of course, but one of the main things I love most about my job is the people – the tribe. There’s no one like us and I’m fascinated with just how many people love working with creatives. I think it’s because they’re empathetic and open, with lots of great traits. Yes, they can be crazy and over the top but it usually all comes down to being lovely and empathic humans, which is something we need more of!”
Drew Weston plays Sebastian in Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical
Francine Cain who plays Cecile in Cruel Intentions, studied in Weston’s same year and it’s the first time the two friends have worked together professionally.
“A lot of my actor mates live all over the country and world, but some of my closest are actors such as Matt Backer, Stephen Madsen and Tim Draxl. They’re not only outrageously talented but beautiful, empathetic and glorious humans both inside and out. I also adore living in Sydney. The Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay area is the most ‘New York’ borough vibe I think Australia has. So many creative types live around here, and we have so many art deco apartment buildings, countless cafes and theatres at our doorstep.”
And what of romance? Surely someone as handsome and charismatic as Weston would be spoken for? No, he’s actually single!
“I had a long romance for about eight years,” says Weston.
“Pryor to Covid I lived in Canada and was seeing someone, which was a lot like a rom com. I was living in Vancouver, and he was in Seattle, and we travelled back and forth, though it wasn’t quite Sleepless in Seattle! I went to Seattle Pride too, as I’d never been to many before. This year I also went to the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade with a group of mates, and we had such an amazing time celebrating. We had great seats at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and Vanessa Amorosi sung Absolutely Everybody directly too us! We ended up at the very small and sophisticated club Poof Doof, where we danced the night away until morning!”
As for touring with Cruel Intentions, the actor has also discovered some personal advantages. In playing the buffed-up Sebastian, Weston has had to get into perfect shape, and it’s all part of the job.
“I’ve been hitting the gym a lot, as well as having meal plans and eight weeks with a personal trainer,” he says.
“Changing my diet has certainly been challenging but getting fit has been a perk of the job! But certainly, one of the challenges has been navigating through the nude pool scene! We had an intimacy coordinator come in to advise with that, and it was actually quite good.”
For those unfamiliar, the pool reference involves a seductive scene in with Sebastian drops his robe to reveal his rather chiseled buttocks – well known to fans of the film, thanks to Ryan Phillippe.
“Yes, that iconic butt shot, which the audience sees,” laughs Weston.
“But of course, it’s working out who can see the other stuff! So, I wear a cock-sock. I didn’t even know what that was beforehand, but I certainly do now! There’s been times where the cock-sock has almost fallen off. I’m in my dressing gown and there’s a song and lots of moving around beforehand, and it’s only held on with double sided tape. There’s been moments where I think, ‘This is going to be horrific!’ More so because this random piece of cloth may fall to the stage!
Drew Weston flexes his muscles!
Weston also looks forward to the future. There are dream roles he would love to take on, such as Chris Scott, the Army sergeant in Miss Saigon, something well-suited to the strapping actor, but for now he’s content reliving the Nineties as Sebastian.
“I hope people enjoy Cruel Intentions for the mere joy of having live theatre again,” he says.
“It’s a great post-Covid show experience. It has a lot of laughs, but it also has that Nineties nostalgia escapism. It’s a kind of Rocky Horror Show vibe and we use the same script from the Cruel Intentions movie. I’ve noticed the audience singing along to the songs and that’s so great!”
For more visit: cruelintentions.com.au
Follow Drew on Instagram @drewboyweston
Drew and I interviewing at the Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne
