By Wayne Laepple
SELINSGROVE — Sex. High fashion. Intrigue. Sounds like the formula for a reality television show.
But in this case, it’s the Susquehanna University Theater Department’s adaptation of “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” (Dangerous Liaisons) by Christopher Hampton. Performances will take place today through Sundayat 8 p.m. in the Degenstein Theater. Tickets are $10.
“It’s very adult,” said Douglas Powers, associate professor of theater, who is directing the production. “It’s about as far away from ‘The Sound of Music’ as you can get.”
The play tells the story of sexual gamesmanship and deceit between the shameless Marquise de Merteuil (Heather A. Arney) and the Vicomte de Valmont (Ross Griffin) in pre-revolutionary France. The play was made famous by Glenn Close, John Malkovich and Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1988 movie “Dangerous Liaisons.”
Powers is conducting the production as a full-semester class rather than an intensive three-week rehearsal process. He decided since the show depends so much on the text that it would worthwhile to delve more deeply into the back story. In addition to studying the play itself, students read about the French Revolution, French history and the writings of Machiavelli.
He also decided to use modern costumes rather than the 18th century dress the playwright envisioned.
“I didn’t want the wigs and dresses to distract from the themes of deceit, manipulation and intrusion. I went with haute couture fashion, so it has the look of a fashion show.”
