On Saturday noon we head off to the Wharf Theatre to see the Sydney Theatre Company’s matinee production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses.
“Unaware of the impending revolution that breathlessly waits to devour the French aristocracy in all its decadence, the Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont plot an elaborate game of revenge, seduction, humiliation and cruelty” it says in the blurb.
Hugo Weaving and Pamela Rabe “play the charismatic duo who manipulate with the precision and discipline of master puppeteers, deriving a pleasure from their spite that can only be surpassed by the pleasure of watching the deliciously wicked pair in action.”
I end up sitting in the front row at the side, on the same level as the actors and a couple of metres from the action. Terrific play, very funny, very cruel. My proximity to the events demands a degree of self control when a very fetching young lady has some of her clothes ripped off by the Vicomte de Valmont (Hugo) and writhes around semi-naked almost within touching distance.
We had been warned. “Please note, this production contains theatrical haze, loud gun shots, and partial nudity.”
Very enjoyable afternoon in the theatre, a great production and good acting.
