Christopher Hampton’s Les Liaisons Dangereuses is a balance between poison and humor, the humor being tongue-in-cheek and the poison, implacable without camp. The villains: Vicomte de Valmont (Brandon Potter) and the Marquise de Merteuil (Cindee Mayfield) are unconventional. They aren’t obvious or drawn in broad strokes, yet their depravity is undeniable. Their motives are petty, but not to them. Valmont wants to seduce the married Madame de Tourvel because her unwavering virtue is contemptible to him. Merteuil wishes to corrupt Cecile de Volange to punish Cecile’s mother. Valmont and Mertuil’s version of revenge is perverse and vicious. It turns on the extreme exploitation of trust. They are sophisticated grifters who inhabit the French Aristocracy (though costumes tell us we are in the present day.) They are anti-heroes and we need to see if they will succeed, repugnant though they may be.
Liaisons opens on a conversation between Merteuil and Valmont. They are fond of each other, though we detect an intense streak of detached rage. As they discuss methods to humiliate those who have piqued their sense of indignity, a symbiotic relationship of reliance and dominance emerges. Hampton is nuanced and fast and the content needs to be processed rapidly. This pair is pathological but their demeanor is impeccable. They enable the other’s strategy but not without exacting a price. It’s worth noting that revenge in Liaisons virtually demands sexual degradation. Both characters wield charisma skillfully, chilly, but effective. All the better to eat you.
Directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene, Theatre Three’s production features a meticulous, impeccable cast. There are some chilling touches, animal masks, dresses made with dyed lace, shadowy lighting. Darkness within and darkness without. The content here (sorbet laced with strychnine) requires pitch perfect tone and razor sharp pacing. We never quite know whose side Hampton (or we) are on, even though we’re encouraged to view the ingenues as dupes. Liaisons is the blackest of comedies, focusing on pleasure and intrigue while quietly, slowly dragging us into the realm of frissons, regret and rapaciousness. The masterful know how to make this piece look smooth as glass, and this production will blindside you, in the best possible way.
Theatre 3 presents: Les Liaisons Dangereuses , playing 2800 Routh Street, Suite # 168, Dallas, Texas 75201. 214-871-3300.