Christopher Hampton’s 1985 play LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES, a stage adaptation of the 1782 epistolary novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, featuring the game playing and manipulations of two aristocrats, the Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil and the Vicomte Sebastian de Valmont, captured the audience’s audience’s imaginations when it was staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Other Place in Stratford Upon Avon. Many will be familiar with the very popular 1988 film version starring Glenn Close, Michelle Pfeifer and John Malkovich.
Griffin Artistic Director Sam Strong impresses with a stylish, evocative revival in his debut production for the Sydney Theatre Company.
Strong’s production communicates the themes of the play well. Above all, Hampton’s play depicts the huge head (and power and lust!) trip of its two central characters, the Marquise and Valmont. We follow as they play out the most intricate of chess games, calculating so many moves ahead, as their intrigues and seductions irrevocably damage the lives of those around them, and as karma would have it, end up destroying their own lives.
There’s no time to be bored with this production. Strong’s production is fast moving with the actors working their entrances and exits at breakneck speed.
The cast deliver strong performances. In the main roles, Pamela Rabe is the stand-out. Slipping on a platinum wig for the role, she plays a chilling, spiteful Marquise. Hugo Weaving is compelling as the confident Lothario, Valmont. Justine Clarke as de Tourvel and Geraldine Hakewill as Cecile Volanges give well realised performances as Valmont’s two main targets for seduction.
Strong’s creative team excels. Hartley T. A. Kemp bathes the stage in a hazy glow, perfect for the play. Dale Ferguson’s elegant set, featuring a living room area dominated by two chaise lounges, and back-grounded by an entrance area which fitted in a pianist tinkling away at a grand piano, worked well. Alan John’s score and Mel Page’s costumes are of the usual high standard.
As an endnote, just feeling the sparks fly in a beautifully directed and played out scene where Valmont finally breaks through the resistance of Clarke is, alone, worth the price of admission.
LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES opened at Wharf 1 Sydney Theatre Company, Pier 4, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay on Thursday 5th April and plays until Saturday 9th June, 2012.
© David Kary
9th April, 2012
Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Christopher Hampton, Choderlos de Laclos’s, Wharf 1 Sydney Theatre Company, Sam Strong, Justine Clarke, Geraldine Hakewill, Pamela Rabe, Hugo Weaving, Dale Ferguson, Meg Page, Hartley Kemp, Alan John, Brett Boardman, Sydney Arts Guide, David Kary.
