“Love and revenge: two of your favourites”
In a society where social status is everything, love and revenge are the currency of the day. Christopher Hampton’s Dangerous Liaisons, an adaptation of the novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, shows high society unknowingly on the precipice of change. While pleasure and scandal are still the name of the game, La Marquise de Merteuil and Le Vicomte de Valmont are ready to have their fill. A feather in the cap of Tatum Lee’s directing career, Dangerous Liaisons will wrap you up in luxury and lasciviousness.
Photo by Moriah Campbell
La Marquise de Merteuil and Le Vicomte de Valmont have made a wager: if the Vicomte can get Madame de Tourvel, a reserved and married woman, to sleep with him AND bring back a letter as proof, then he can have one night with the Marquise. Meanwhile, the Marquise is trying to use the Vicomte to help her take revenge on a former lover using her friend’s daughter Cécile Volanges as a pawn. Temptation, however, gets the best of both the Marquise and the Vicomte as they deviate from their original plans and take on new lovers. When their most devious schemes to date come to fruition, it’s impossible to tell who is punished the most, and how much longer it’ll be before they all feel the sharp sting of society’s reproach.
Photo by Moriah Campbell
It’s clear to see why Dangerous Liaisons continues to pervade in our consciousness; these characters and their exploits could just as easily be taken from today’s clickbait as they were from the society papers of the time. It feels like watching a reality TV show as the audience witnesses all of the dirty little secrets happening behind the closed doors of high society. There’s something simultaneously horrifying and delightful about it; you feel bad for taking such joy in watching these people manipulate each other and yet you can’t look away. It’s wild to think that this sort of voyeurism has been considered entertainment for as long as it has, and yet it’s so engrained into our culture that it likely won’t be going anywhere any time soon.
Photo by Moriah Campbell
The Annex Theatre space has been beautifully adorned to suit the glamour of the time. Famous Rococo paintings grace the walls, along with flowers, silks, and gorgeous furniture. Serhat Dogantekin’s set design immediately gives the feel of the grandeur of Paris’ high society in the late 1700’s. Liam Cardinell’s lighting design enhances the ambiance of the set perfectly. The music choices were also perfectly on point for the time, with recognizable pieces completing the experience. Lee’s costumes are stunning; showing just the right amount of skin to be scandalous but with the paniers and fabrics of the time, I would happily wear everything that’s shown on stage!
I want to give a quick shout-out to the Intimacy Coordinator for this production, Lizzie Moffat (who is also a member of the cast). For a show like Dangerous Liaisons where there are several sensual and sexual scenes depicted, with varying levels of consent involved, having an Intimacy Coordinator is absolutely essential. It’s odd now to think about a time where this crucial element of the rehearsal and staging process would have not been involved; this ensures such safety and trust between the actors while also allowing for everything to still have that tantalizing feel to it.
Photo by Moriah Campbell
Jesse McQueen and Devin Bell star as the Marquise and Vicomte. Their chemistry is absolutely electric, and they each give passionate performances. McQueen is calculating and smart, while Bell is charming and seductive. Katelyn Doyle and Lucas Blakely are their polar opposites as Cécile do Volanges and Le Chavalier Danceny. Young, in love, and far too eager, Doyle and Blakely put all of their sweetness and naivety into these characters. Shannon Pitre and Anne Shepherd are the maternal figures in the story, playing Mme de Volanges and Mme de Rosemonde (the Vicomte’s aunt). Both carry themselves with grace and elegance, despite the chaos and deception around them. Lizette Mynhardt gives a moving performance as La Présidente de Tourvel; her pleading with the Vicomte and her breakdown at his betrayal tugs on your heartstrings. It’s clear to see that Trevor Ketcheson is having a great del of fun with his role as Azolan: his swagger is undeniable and his chemistry with the Vicomte is quite spicy! Lizzie Moffat is a bubbly and fun Émilie, putting on a most delicious French accent for the role. Amanda D’Souza rounds out the cast as Julie, the Marquise’s maid. This ensemble works together beautifully to bring this story to life.
The final moments of Dangerous Liaisons are a poignant reminder of what’s in store for France’s elite in the near future. The sound of the blade slicing through the air reminds us of the consequences these extravagant aristocrats faced, and stands as a warning for today. Dangerous Liaisons is simultaneously of its time and for all time, until we learn our lesson.
Dangerous Liaisons runs at the Annex Theatre until June 7. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/wren-theatre/les_liaisons_dangereuses
If you’d like to hear my conversation with stars Jesse McQueen and Devin Bell, you can listen to A View from the Box – The Podcast here: https://aviewfromthebox.net/a-view-from-the-box-the-podcast/ or wherever you find your podcasts!
Cover Photo: Jesse McQueen. Photo by Moriah Campbell.
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