LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES

(1999)

WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS ....

Win or die are the choices on offer in this delicious adaptation of the Laclos classic.  Set in the 1780s in and around Paris, La Marquise de Merteuil (Sally Marsh) and her former lover Le Vicomte de Valmont (James Dowson) partake in an intriguing game of cat and mouse.

Both show a distinct lack of morality as they thrive on frighteningly unpredictable challenges which take the form of sexual and emotional conquest.  Revenge spurs La Marquise to appeal to Valmont's strong male pride and provoke him into seducing a naive young girl, Cecile de Volanges (Liz Wareham).  The rules of the game are clear.  Only flirt with those who intend to refuse, and always be aware that vanity and happiness are incompatible.  Unfortunately for the incorrigible rogue, Valmont makes the fatal mistake of combining the two.  As La Marquise points out, "the best swimmers often drown".

As an ageing, wealthy woman living in this era, you can hardly blame her for making the best of her sex, in what would otherwise be a dull existence of social civility.  But it is the relentless lengths she goes to in such a calculating manner that makes her actions so frightening and callous.  La Presidente de Tourvel (Suzanne Jones) plays a virtuous girl, made love-sick by the dishonourable advances of Le Vicomte.Snivelling a great deal in her wretchedness, she makes a great contrast to the dominant Marquise, who is always able to stay in control of her emotions, to the point where you do question her capacity for any form of humanity.  In the midst of such social intrigue can true love possibly flourish?

Very raunchy, with a wealth of hilarious sexual innuendos, this play's compelling and energetic pace gives a surprisingly contemporary feel to period drama.

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