Les Liaisons Dangereuses (2001)
from the novel by Choderlos de Laclos
Directed by Anton Krause and Penelope Beaumont
Performances: Tue 1st – Sat 8th September 2001, Bell Theatre
Contents
Introduction
The characters who inhabit Laclos' famous 18th century novel are icy and dangerous. They alleviate the boredom of their over-comfortable Ancien Regime existences by using their wit, intelligence and power to play games with the lives of others. The fact that the consequences of these games may extend to ruin and death means nothing until it becomes their own. Baudelaire said of the novel at the time "If this book burns it is only in the manner of ice" and Christopher Hampton who wrote this award winning adaptation for the RSC in 1985 described it as "the best sex education any boy could have".
The play tells the story of the Marquise de Merteuil and her ex-lover the Vicomte de Valmont and their plans to destroy the reputation of fifteen year old Cecile de Volange in revenge against her husband-to-be, with whom they both hold grudges. Valmont initially considers the de-flowering of Cecile to be a job too easy for him to bother with and sets himself the task of seducing the married and famously virtuous Presidente de Tourvel. Complications arise however in the form of a young suitor for Cecile and the inconvenient circumstance that Valmont may be beginning to fall in love with his prey, the lovely Presidente.
Cast
- La Marquise de Merteuil - Helen Chadney
- Madame de Volange - Caroline Wilson
- Cecile de Volange - Alice Mill
- Le Vicomte de Valmont - Tim Hinchliffe
- Azolan - Matthew Lyne
- Madame de Rosemonde - Ruth Lidyard
- La Presidente de Tourvel - Elinor Morgan Jones
- Emilie - Maggie Kruger
- Le Chevalier Danceny - Alan Walker
Crew
- Set Design - Alan Buckman
- Stage Manager - Jane Moorhead
- Costume - [Alan Buckman]] and Val Williams
- Lighting Design - Mike Elliott
- Lighting Operator - Sarah Farage
Reviews
Some review quotes go here
Gallery
Photo thumbnails go here with links to larger images.
Reminiscences and Anecdotes
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