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Les Liaisons Dangereuses
By Christopher Hampton
Directed by Michael Colucci
At Actors Workshop Theatre
1044 W. Bryn Mawr
Chicago, IL
Call 773-728-7529, tickets $25, seniors & students $20
Industry tickets $10 thru July 29)
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 2 hours and 40 minutes with intermission
Through August 5, 2007
Sensual tale of sex, seduction, passion and love worth a visit.
Actors Workshop Theatre follows up their marvelous production of Equus with a worthy mounting of the 18th Century French classic Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Christopher Hampton in their tiny stage on Bryn Mawr Avenue.
Dangereuses is a tale of former lovers bent on treachery and revenge. Merteuil (the marvelous Jacqueline Grandt) is the ultimate game player determined on revenge against her husband and her former lover Valmont (C. Sean Piereman). Merteuil and Valmont challenge each other to perform acts of sexual treachery as each confides their escapades to the other. Valmont is the charmingly cunning man whose ego and sensuality leads him to enjoy deflowering innocent young ladies. This drama is a scandalous story about deceit, decadence and “sexual warfare blending high style in a dreamscape o f secrets and lies.” so says the press notes. I do agree.
The production is articulate and filled with fine performances led by Jacqueline Grandt as the icy cruel Merteuil with fine nuanced and emotionally truthful work from Maura Kidwell as de Tourvel. Kidwell’s wide ranging performance has her character going from righteous free-spirited young girl to a sensual passionate woman. I was disappointed with C. Sean Piereman’s bland and stiff take on Valmont. I never believed him as the charming and cunning man that women can’t get enough of. In act two Piereman relaxes and delivers some clues as to Valmont’s personality. But it was too little too late.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses is an enchanting adventure of deceit where lust and revenge dominate. The show is filled with witty language and clever twists. Kudos to Actors Workshop Theatre for delivering a worthy production of an ambitious and difficult show. This non-Equity troupe once again delivers fine entertainment. Woman will love this show.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2007
Jeff Recommended
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