Christopher Hampton’s 1985 play LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES, a stage adaptation of the 1782 novel, written in the form of letters, 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 imaginations when it was staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Other Place theatre in Stratford Upon Avon. Many will be familiar with the very popular 1988 film version starring Glenn Close, Michelle Pfeiffer and John Malkovich.
The New Theatre’s current production features a fresh adaptation by Deborah Mulhall. Her adaptation communicates the themes of the play well. Above all, Hampton’s play depicts the huge head, power and lust trip of its two central characters, Merteuil 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 facile lives.
There are mixed theories as to what De Laclos’ intentions with the play were. The most popular theory is that he was being bitingly satirical of the upper class not long before the French revolution. The problem with this theory is that in his lifetime he was well connected with and much loved by the aristocracy. The more likely case is that he just wanted to write a super entertaining play which he certainly achieved.
Tasha O’Brien’s production is engaging and fast moving. The stagecraft is exemplary. O’Brien’s design team create the stage world well; Patrick Kennedy’s minimalist, very functional set, Holly Nesbitt’s incisive lighting, Lily Moody’s period costumes and Erica Lovell’s edgy soundscape.
A cast of nine give fine performances. The two leads are great.
Melissa Jones plays the vain, unscrupulous Merteuil who has to control every situation. If she doesn’t want to get what she wants, she is going to make sure that no-one else will either. At one point when Valmont doesn’t acquiesce with her wishes, she declares outright war!
Chad Traupmann impresses as her cohort the ice cool, manipulative womaniser, Valmont. Valmont comes undone when he actually lets his guard down and feels something for Tourvel, his latest ‘victim’.
Megan Elizabeth Kennedy gives a well nuanced performance as the feisty, strong willed, passionate Tourvel. Sparks fly in the scenes between Traupmann and her.
Bronte Price gives a convincing portrayal as Cecile, an innocent young teen who Valmont seduces, stirring up emotions that she is not old enough to be able to deal with.
Harrison Collis Oates plays Danceny, a young music teacher and Cecile’s secret lover. He is too soft natured and easily manipulated by the two king pins.
Beth Champion is Cecile’s caring, traditional, principled mother Volanges who is also outsmarted by the terrible two!
Ella Morris plays Valmont’s sneaky valet and occasional accomplice Azolan as well as Sophie.
The cast is rounded out by Ben Dewstow as Belleroche and Suzann James as Rosemonde.
Endlessly entertaining and with a very nasty villain, DANGEROUS LIAISONS opened on Thursday 29th May is playing the New Theatre, 542 King Street Theatre, Newtown until the 28th June 2025.
Production photography by the legendary Bob Seary
