Review: "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" on Broadway

How does Les Liaisons Dangereuses on Broadway compare to the famous movie Dangerous Liaisons (starring Glenn Close, John Malkovich, and Michelle Pfeiffer)?

Having never read the book by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (and only seen the movie), I was not sure what to expect. I had nothing to fear. The Broadway adaption of the book was mostly accurate and dramatic.

As La Marquise de Merteuil, Janet McTeer acted splendidly with her gift of bending others to her will. She shows that unique skill for conniving and persuading, using all her finest weapons: logic, flattery, and womanly charms. She is quickly able to convince Vicomte de Valmont to do her bidding, i.e., seduce the young and inexperienced Cecile Volanges for a promise (one night of pleasure with her). Janet is quite convincing as the Marquise and plays her part as well as Glenn Close in the film.

Liev Schreiber as Le Vicomte de Valmont plays his part as the talented Lothario. With skill and ingenuity, he can overcome the black strain of his sordid reputation and multiple seemingly impossible hurdles to seduce Cecile Volange (played by Elena Kampouris). Upon success, he quickly attempts to claim his prize (the night with Marquise) but is unsuccessful. In the process, he destroys Cecil's reputation and her faith in love (as Cecile returns to the convent). Liev is compelling and plays his part as deftly as John Malkovich in the movie. Of course, seeing his skill for argumentation, flattery, and seduction is only to be experienced in live theater.

Elena Kampouris plays the part of the young, virtuous, and primarily inexperienced Cecile Volange. Despite putting up a seemingly impregnable wall of resistance against Valmont's subtle and never-ending barrage of seductive temptations, she is powerless to resist them. Valmont skillfully uses Cecile's own words and her virtue to seduce her. The play's dramatic skirmish is the verbal sparring between the great Vicomte de Valmont and the young, innocent Cecile.

When Valmont utters, "It's beyond my control," to Cecile, we know he is breaking off the affair. But Valmont has more intrigue on his mind. To win Cecile back (after shamefully discarding her) now would be a grand achievement. It is not winning love that satisfies Valmont, but the overcoming of insurmountable obstacles that truly mollifies his ego (the more complex the conquest, the better)

Like all great dramas, Le Liaisons Dangereuses asks more questions than answers.
Could any of us resist Valmont's advances than Cecile? If not, how are we to judge her actions?
Can people like La Marquise De Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont seduce anyone at will? If so, are we all just powerless heaps of clay?

Plot

The Vicomte de Valmont is determined to seduce the virtuous, married, and therefore inaccessible Madame de Tourvel, who stays with Valmont's aunt while her husband is away on a court case. At the same time, the Marquise de Merteuil is determined to corrupt the young Cécile de Volanges, whose mother has only recently brought her out of a convent to be married — to Merteuil's previous lover, who has rudely discarded her. Cécile falls in love with the Chevalier Danceny (her young music tutor), and Merteuil and Valmont pretend to help the secret lovers gain their trust and use them later in their schemes.

Merteuil suggests that the Vicomte seduce Cécile to enact her revenge on Cécile's future husband. Valmont refuses, finding the challenge too easy and preferring to devote himself to attracting Madame de Tourvel. Merteuil promises Valmont that if he attracts Madame de Tourvel and provides her with written proof, she will spend the night with him. He expects rapid success but does not find it as easy as his many other conquests. While pursuing, he discovers that Cécile's mother has written to Madame de Tourvel about his bad reputation. He avenges himself by seducing Cécile as Merteuil had suggested. In the meantime, Merteuil takes Danceny as a lover.

By the time Valmont has succeeded in seducing Madame de Tourvel, he seems to have fallen in love with her. Jealous, Merteuil tricks him into deserting Madame de Tourvel — and reneges on her promise of spending the night with him. In retaliation, Valmont reveals that he prompted Danceny to reunite with Cécile, leaving Merteuil abandoned yet again. Merteuil declares war on Valmont and reveals to Danceny that Valmont has seduced Cécile.

Danceny and Valmont duel, and Valmont is fatally wounded. Before he dies, he gives Danceny the letters proving Merteuil's involvement.

At this point, the play diverges significantly from the book by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. In the play, Cecile commits suicide, and nothing happens to Marquise de Merteuil. However, in the book, Marquise de Merteuil flees to the countryside ( due to the letters Valmont left with Danceny, revealing her part in this tragedy).

In the country, the Marquise de Merteuil contracts smallpox, and her face is left permanently scarred. She is rendered blind in one eye, losing her most significant asset: beauty. But the innocent also suffer from the protagonist's schemes: desperate with guilt and grief, Madame de Tourvel succumbs to a fever and dies, while dishonored Cécile returns to the convent.

Cast

• La Marquise de Merteuil - Janet McTeer
• Cecile Volanges - Elena Kampouris
• Madame de Volanges - Ora Jones
• Le Vicomte de Valmont - Liev Schreiber
• Azolan - Josh Salt
• Madame de Rosemonde - Mary Beth Peil
• Madame de Tourvel - - Birgitte Huort Sorensen
• Emilie - Katrina Cunningham
• Le Chevalier Danceny - Raffi Barsoumian
• Major-domo - David Patterson
• Julie - Laura Sudduth
• Victoire - Joy Franz

Les Liaisons Dangereuses Report Card

Positives

• Liev Schreiber plays his part as La Vicomte de Valmont with power and intelligence
• Janet McTeer acts her part as La Marquise de Merteuil quite believably 
• Elena Kampuris does a very credible Cecile Volanges

Negatives

• Some audience members were unwrapping candies and loudly chewing while the drama was ongoing. It was really distracting and annoying.