Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1985, 1987
A 1985 play by Christopher Hampton, adapted from the 1782 novel of the same name by Pierre Choderlot de Laclos.
The plot focuses on the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, rivals who use sex as a weapon of humiliation and degradation, all the while enjoying their cruel games. Their targets are the virtuous (and married) Madame de Tourvel and Cécile de Volanges, a young girl who has fallen in love with her music tutor, the Chevalier Danceny. In order to gain their trust, Merteuil and Valmont pretend to help the secret lovers so they can use them later in their own treacherous schemes.
Cast:
- Marquise de Merteuil – Lindsay Duncan
- Vicomte de Valmont – Alan Rickman
- Madame de Tourvel – Juliet Stevenson
- Cécile de Volanges – Lesley Manville
- Chevalier Danceny – Sean Baker
1985 – Staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the play opened at The Other Place in Stratford-upon-Avon on 24 September 1985. Directed by Howard Davies, the cast included Lindsay Duncan as the Marquise de Merteuil, Alan Rickman as the Vicomte de Valmont, Juliet Stevenson as Madame de Tourvel, Lesley Manville as Cécile de Volanges, and Sean Baker as the Chevalier Danceny.
1987 – Lindsay Duncan and Alan Rickman reprised their roles for the Broadway production, also directed by Howard Davies.
Interesting fact: The producer of the film “Die Hard” Joel Silver saw Alan Rickman in this play and gave him the role of Hans Gruber.
