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Manville's Queenly Rage Ignites 'Dangerous Liaisons'
2 Apr
Summary
- Lesley Manville commands the stage as a manipulative Marquise.
- Seduction is portrayed as a dangerous, strategic contact sport.
- The production uses dance to metaphorically represent sexual conquest.
The National Theatre presents a dark and rageful adaptation of 'Dangerous Liaisons,' renowned for its portrayal of seduction as a strategic game of power.
Lesley Manville stars as the cunning Marquise de Merteuil, a manipulative aristocrat orchestrating a scheme of sexual deceit. Her performance is lauded for its queenly presence and contained rage, embodying a woman driven to dominate and avenge.
Aidan Turner portrays the Vicomte de Valmont, a rake whose playful seductions take a tragic turn when he falls in love. Monica Barbaro makes her London debut as Madame de Tourvel, evolving from purity to exhilaration and shame.
Director Marianne Elliott's production, adapted by Christopher Hampton, uses choreographed dance to represent seduction as a contact sport. This innovative approach, initially subtle, builds to a powerful, combative quality.
Visually, Rosanna Vize's set design blends period and contemporary aesthetics, complemented by Natalie Roar's vivid costumes. The production culminates in the mutual destruction of its central villains, revealing its dark, menacing heart.
