Twists and turns at Theatre 3

THE CHRONICLE, Tuesday, September 15 2009

LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES

• WHEN: September 11 to October 3
• WHERE: Theatre 3
• TICKETS: $35 adult, $27 concession and matinees
• BOOKINGS: www.canberrarep.org.au or 6257 1950

By Katrina Curtis

LES Liaisons Dangereuses director Duncan Driver promises audiences bodice ripping, swashbuckling and lots of laughs in Canberra Rep's latest production.

He said the theatre company approached him earlier in the year with a list of plays it wanted to run this season, from which he chose Liaisons

"I thought it was the funniest play, I thought it had the best potential," he said of his choice.

"There was a lot of intrigue and plot twists and turns that keep people on the edge of their seats, especially in the second act as the plot heats up.

"There's a nice element of suspence in the play and there are moments of surprise that all the preview audiences so far have gasped at, which was great."

There are plenty of twists and turns in the story of rivals Vicomte de Valmont and Marquise de Merteuil, who compete in a battle of wit, seduction, cruelty and pleasure. The original stro yby Pierre Choderlos de Laclos was first published in 1782, just before the French Revolution.

In a real life twist, these two rivals are portrayed by husband and wife Duncan and Hannah Ley.

Driver said he'd had the opportunity to cherry pick what he felt were Canberra's best actors, after so many applied for the play he had to hold two days of auditions.

"I was blessed with a great wealth of talent from which to choose," he said.

He said this helped give a great experience, which he hoped would attract a younger audience.

"It goes further into things that you want as an audience member to experience, ie you laugh a lot in this play and it's different types of laughter," he said.

"There's a great deal of drama and passion in this play."