Dangerous Liaison

‘Dangerous Liaisons’ (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) by Christopher Hampton, was presented by The Mandurah Little Theatre  at Koorliny Arts Centre, Kwinana on 26^th and 27^th March, the season will continue at Mandurah Senior College, Mandurah from the 9^th to the 17^th of April, shows at 8.00 pm, with two matinees at 2.00 pm 10^th and 17th.

           The ever tumescent Vicomte de Valmont (Thomas Hennessy) is asked by the bitter Marquise de Merteuil (Dianna Oliver) who is intent upon revenge, to go forth and deflower Madame de Tourvel (Sky Ogier), the daughter of an acquaintance, Madame de Rosemonde (Beryl Francis). Having done so to return with written proof of his conquest.
          Valmont finishes off his ‘piece’ in hand, Emilie (Rachel Loftus) and goes in search of his challenge. On the way he comes across, a shy weakling (Philip Hutton) madly in love with Madame de Volanges’ (Corinne Thorneycroft) daughter, another un-opened flower, Cecile (Nikkita-Leigh Dixon). He feels it his duty to educate the young lady.
          With the help of his servant, (Matthew Sheehy) he finds out the secrets of the local ladies. Will he break down the respectability and conquer the poor unsuspecting innocent?

 

If you were a director choosing a play for your local community theatre, and were faced with even one or two of the following, would you chose the play or look elsewhere?
A play that won three Oscars
A period piece, mid 17^th Century
A foreign setting - France
Period costumes required
Period furniture and props essential
A vicious sword fight
Several demanding sex scenes.
Dialogue with tongue twisting lines.
A young cast

Director Karen Francis was obviously undeterred by the whole list and took on the horrendous task. However, with such a dedicated cast, they have obviously all worked together, to create this very high quality production.

This play is a very serious love story, but with many funny lines and situations. The cast all delivered their lines with confidence, clearly and with just the right amount of emotion. The pace was excellent. There was strong empathy between every character; even the servants knew precisely the manner of the French aristocracy.

Karen was faced with a play based almost entirely on sexual goings-on, should she smooth over the naughty bits and turn the whole play into a meaningless child’s drama or grab the bull by the horns and ask her cast to join her in her aim. They did and the sex scenes, whilst quite explicit, were tastefully done – and at times very funny. The ladies were not exploited, with the action stopping well before the tasteless or pornography stage. A true romp, with an outstanding cast giving their all.

Stage Manager, Amy Honor Elliott, had numerous scene changes which were carried out in dimmed light by the household staff of the various houses (Ian Butcher, Amy Honor Elliott, Dee Crosthwaite and Bob Ingham). Whilst most successful, with the number of changes required, it may be prudent to look at trimming a few seconds off each change – especially the bed props.
From the well-designed poster, programme, front of house staff in costume, the entrance display showing photos from the films and another with a story-web view of the links between the various characters. Everything had been thought of and carried out magnificently by a minimal crew, mainly the actors. Certainly a dedicated team bent on quality.

The play is moving to Mandurah, but how about extending the run and bringing it up to the Phoenix Theatre or Don Russell Theatre, where I am sure it would do very well.
Many congratulations on an excellent production. Community theatre at its best.