[Review] Mouse on the Stair: Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Mouse on the Stair’s production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses presents itself as a study of the sinister. The corrupt battles against the moral in affairs of the heart, and in the backdrop of a war-torn Europe in this 1940s set adaptation of Pierre Chodleros de Laclos’ novel. With a stage framed by two blood-red Nazi flags the audience are reminded of an ever-present menace in the face of which relationships on stage are thrown into a new light. The seduction which is key to the sport of the Marquise de Merteuil and her counterpart the Vicomte de Valmont cleverly echoes Hitler’s guileful rise to power.
Oozing a Machiavellian pleasure for manipulation the Marquise’s relationship with the Vicomte crackles with sexual tension and seduces the audience. The web of deceit which these two fiends spin over their unfortunate victims is beautifully illustrated by the witlessness of Cecile and the hysterical hopelessness of Madame de Tourvel – the Vicomte’s greatest challenge.
The manipulative is also pivotal to the staging of this piece as characters are costumed in black and white according to their morality and moved around as chess pieces according to their influence. This is used to brilliant effect as the play moves towards its climax: the intricate relationships on stage begin to falter and it becomes apparent that the ‘dark’ characters of the Marquise and the Vicomte are no longer powerful but are struggling to survive.
This is a strong cast who are not afraid of the challenging and complex characters which this piece provides, but perform with a confidence well beyond their student years. A must-see for fans of literature as well as for its lessons in the art of deception.
Who: Les Liaisons Dangereuses.
Where: C Central
When: 1900-2030; 5th-29th August (odd dates only)
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