Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Les Liasions Dangereuses

From: "will stackman" profwlll@yahoo.com

Subject: Quicktake - "Les Liaisons Dangereuse" by Christopher Hampton
                adapted from a novel by Choderlos de Laclos (1782)

Date: Wed, Jan 11, 11:23 PM

Quicktake on LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSE

     The Huntington's latest effort is a lavish but unsatisfying attempt to reenergize Christopher Hampton's 1985 retelling of a scandalous proto-novel from pre-Revolutionary France. It fails largely because the two actors cast in the leading roles are don't catch fire with either the audience or each other. La Marquise de Tourvel, the schemer behind the various plots, has been played on screen by luminaries such as Jeanne Moreau (1959), Glenn Close (1988), and Catherine Deneuve(2003 TV). N.Y. actress Tasha Lawrence has neither the presence or the vocal range to carry off the role, and is betrayed by her costumes more than once. Mr. Blackwell would have a field day. Her partner in intrigue, Le Vicomte de Valmont, done by Gerard Phillipe(1959), John Malkovich (1988), Rupert Everett(2003), and in the original RSC stage version by Alan Rickman (1985-89 London & NY) falls to film & TV personality Michael T. Weiss who is generally unconvincing. The third important role, Marianne, La Presidente de Tourvel, a young very religious married woman, whom Valmont inexplicably sets out to seduce, was done by Annette Vadim in 1959 (her father directed), Michelle Pfieffer (1988), and Natasia Kinski in 2003. At the Huntington, young Yvonne Woods has the look and bearing, is a convincing actress, but is too limited vocally. The director, Daniel Goldstein seems to have intended make the piece more contemporary by avoiding any sense of upperclass speech. It's only when Valmont's aunt, IRNE winner Alice Duffy, is dominating a scene that the vocal drama matches the pseudo-aristocratic costumery. Much of the cast simply babbles.

     James Noone's set is impressive from the orchestra, if a little too tall, but has the usual sightline problems from the balcony--and it twinkles. Mark Stanley's light plot has holes so that actors are sometimes out-of-focus at key moments. The original music by Loren Toolajian, period-like with intrusive modern beats, doesn't accomplish very much. It's the concept driven costuming by Erin Chainani--modern touches and references-- that proves the least effective, except when most in period. Why is Valmont wearing pinstripes?

    If you want to experience this expose of decadence with the inevitable titillation, rent the Academy Award nominated 1988 movie to get the story--and don't laugh to hard at Keanu Reeves as a young dandy-- then find Vadim's 1959 version to get the picture. If you're a movie buff, search out Milos Forman's 1989 "Valmont" with Annette Being and Colin Firth. The original epistolatory two volume text is a bit of a slog in either French or English.





""Les Liaisons Dangereuse" by Christopher Hampton, Jan. 6 - Feb. 5

Huntington Theatre Co. at B.U. Theatre

264 Huntington Ave, (617) 266 - 0800

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home