Les liaisons dangereuses

Another success for the Lyceum. The set and staging were kept simple, allowing the audience to concentrate on the language; Les liaisons is not the simplest of plays, so clarity is essential if the audience is to keep track of Merteuil and Valmont's machinations.

For all the delights of Dugald Bruce Lockhart's Valmont, he came across as too youthful and enthusiastic for the part; despite capturing the character's arrogance, his eventual comeuppance seemed more the result of naivety than getting his due. Thankfully, the women in the cast more than made up for this, Candida Benson in particular as a superb Madame de Tourvel, her brief moments of happiness making her fate all the more moving.

Tilly Blackwood played Merteuil very much as Strauss' Marschallin gone bad, choosing to hit back at male-dominated society once she's past her prime. Crucially, however, she never lost the audience's sympathy even as she manipulated all around her - a beautifully nuanced interpretation of a role which could all too easily be played as a hissable villain.

Les liaisons dangereuses is at the Royal Lyceum Theatre (30B Grindlay St), until Saturday 20th May. Ring the box office (0131 248 4848) for details.

(5th May 2006)

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