Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Les Liaisons Dangereuses' Latest Broadway Affair Opens

Les Liaisons Dangereuses' Latest Broadway Affair Opens

This evening, the first Great White Way revival of Christopher Hampton's Les Liaisons Dangereuses opens at the Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre.

Under Rufus Norris' guiding hand, this incarnation stars Laura Linney as La Marquise de Merteuil opposite Ben Daniels as Le Vicomte de Valmont. This marks Linney's first Rialto turn since 2004's Sight Unseen for which she received a Tony nomination.

Other notable cast members in Les Liaisons Dangereuses include Mamie Gummer (daughter of Meryl Streep) as Cécile Volanges, Siân Phillips as Madame de Rosemonde, and Jessica Collins as La Présidente de Tourvel.

Les Liaisons Dangereuses originally appeared on Broadway's Music Box Theatre 21 years ago, when the Howard Davies-helmed production enjoyed a 149 performance run along with 7 Tony nominations, including for Best Play. That incarnation starred Tony nominees Lindsay Duncan and Alan Rickman.

Subsequently, the play was turned into the highly acclaimed 1988 film "Dangerous Liaisons," boasting what would now have to be deemed as nothing less than an all-star cast with Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, Swoosie Kurtz, Keanu Reeves, Mildred Natwick and Uma Thurman. Christopher Hampton earned an Academy Award for his screen adaptation.

So with all the previous success of Hampton's material, will this revival safely glide to critical praise? Find out tomorrow as I provide my critics' capsule.

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Labels: Ben Daniels, Broadway, Christopher Hampton, Laura Linney, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Opening Night, Play, Revival, Roundabout Theatre, Rufus Norris

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Thursday, May 01, 2008