Considered a brilliantly revived adaptation of the classical French epistolary novel by Choderlos de Laclos Les Liaisons Dangereuses exceeded my expectations not only because of Christopher Hampton's witty approach, the whole decor but most of all due to the brilliant interpretation of Janet McTeer in the role of Marquise de Merteuil, Dominic West as Vicomte de Valmont and Elaine Cassidy as Madame de Tourvel.
Other characters, such as the waiter and the young Cecile de Voslanges, whose acting roles were not as "vibrant" as the three main characters in the overall play were equally played with a remarkable distinctiveness by Theo Barklem-Biggs and Jennifer Saayeng.
I couldn't have possibly spent three hours in "better company". Despite the fact that Choderlos de Laclos' novel dates back to 1782 the games of seduction, revenge, power and the fragile aspects or strengths in relationships still resonate today with slightly different contours, bearing in mind the epoch they are associated to in the play - a Pre-revolutionary France.
Directed by Josie Rourke to mark the play's thirty year anniversary Liaisons Dangereuses has won the Evening Standard awards for best play, which doesn't surprise me at all ... what did surprise me though (and maybe it shouldn't) was the fact that there were only twenty one people (apart from my daughter and I) watching this Live transmission ... in a room prepared to welcome many more guests.
I'd better not say what I feel about the Portuguese Theatre public (or absence of it) as it would sound rather presumptuous on my part but I wish people were more culture oriented and attended these venues as much as they attend shopping malls (el Corte Inglês was crowded) because they 'd realise what they really missed (in this case just around the corner ...)
"Theatre at its most seductive and sinister" - The Evening Standard.
"One of the best stage adaptations ever written." - The Observer.
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