‘Liaisons Dangereuses’ from Ensemble Company needs more danger
“Les Liaisons Dangereuses” was a big gamble for The Ensemble Company, which has exceeded expectations as a new troupe with small, thoughtful and challenging productions such as “The Niceties,” “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” and “The Lifespan of a Fact.”
“Les Liaisons Dan ge re uses” has a much larger cast, a sprawling story and even in the strongest production serves up only minimal food for thought. Despite some entertaining moments, the Ensemble Company’s “Liaisons” turns out to be the wrong play at the wrong time.
The Glenn Close-John Malkovich film, titled with the English translation “Dangerous Liaisons,” remains a classic, but The Ensemble Company just can’t do the various and treacherous liaisons justice. Quite simply, this is a play that needs to be dripping with sex— but even with clear face shields that let us see the actors’ faces, in an age of COVID-19 it’s nigh impossible to generate real heat.
Opening night also lacked the sense of danger that should hang over every machination.
As directed by Matthew Mac Der mid, plot recapitulation, tawdry secrets and shocking revelations allwere delivered at the same pace and with the same emotional heft. Perhaps the actors were just trying to remember all the dialogue in Christopher Hampton’ s long and wordy play.
Hampton does come up with engaging double entendres, and Melanie Veazey— so good in the aforementioned “Vanya and Sonia, et al”— has a delightfully dishy way with them.
Veazey is in the Glenn Close role— that of the Marquise de Merteuil, a viperous noblewoman of 18th-century France who enters into a cruel game with her former lover, the Vicomte de Valmont.
The two plan to ruin a budding romance between two youngsters, Cecile and Danceny, as part of a revenge scheme. Meanwhile, Valmont— who has a reputation as a champion seducer— is more interested in the challenge of bedding the virtuous Madame Tourvel.
But not one of the couplings sizzles in any meaningful way; even the electricity that should link Merteuil and Valmont isn’t there. As Valmont, Jarman Day displays a devil-may-care attitude that doesn’t change even when his character’s feelings do. If Valmont is shocked to learn he may have a heart after all, it doesn’t show.
Likewise, Merteuil’s realization that her feelings for Valmont may be more complicated than she thinks fails to register in any meaningful way.
Sarah French fares better as the tortured Torvel, and performers in smaller roles find the humor in their characters: Robin Neill-Kitaif as a malleable matron, Eileen Antonescu as an elderlywoman who sees things plainly.
They provide moments of flavor in a dish that just never feels spicy enough.
‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses’
■ Length: 2:25, including intermission
■ COVID-19 precautions: Temperature checks, mandatory masks, distanced seating
■ Where: Penguin Point Productions, Oviedo Mall, 1700 Oviedo Mall Blvd.
■ When: Through Nov. 16
■ Tickets: $16-$20
■ Info: penguinpointproductions.com
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