Reviewed by David Spencer
I rarely if ever write mainstream
Broadway reviews so brief as this one, but, despite my usual time crunch, I find that
I haven't that much to say about the Roundabout revival of Christopher Hampton's Les Liasons Dangereuses (adapted from the classic French
epistolary novel by Choderlos de Laclos) except that it's deucedly good and that you
should hie yourself to the American Airlines Theatre on 42nd Street to take it in.
The story,
having received a number of high-profile film dramatizations in the last
quarter century (in the wake of this play's London premiere, only one of those
films a direct adaptation of the play) is probably familiar to most. In Paris
of the 1780s, two upper crust social "independents" who delight in
the sexual and moral manipulation of others (Ben Daniels and Laura Linney) agree to a wager. If he can
penetrate the defenses—and the person—of one particular moral innocent (Jessica
Collins), he
will be rewarded with a night of passion in the bed of his increasingly less
friendly opponent. None of the players is truly prepared for the emotional
fallout.
The
production is a spectacularly designed affair, its clean, streamlined opulence
more in keeping with the dazzle of a musical than a straight drama (glistening,
mirrored and screened sets by Scott Pask, deliciously frilly yet pointedly
character-centric costumes by Katrina Lindsay, unsentimental lighting design
[which is to say its cool signature enhances the emotional subtexts] by Donald
Holder); and
under the direction of Rufus Norris, the show is bracingly acted, as all souls undergo
change; and increasingly blind pride takes the gamesters to the point at which
even dedicated amorality collapses—too late—under the weight of conscience and
truth. Especially memorable is that central triumvirate—the merciless charm of
Ms. Linney; the eroding resolve of Mr. Daniels; and the increasing
vulnerability of Ms. Collins.
So
that's it then. No deep thoughts, no thoughtful analysis, no describing in
luscious detail that which you can experience perfectly well for itself. Just
an advisory that the game is worth the candelabra. And sometimes that's
enough...
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