Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Tickets are now on sale
Dan Smith directs the final offering of 2014 at the MSU Department of Theatre: a dark comedy with scorching dialogue and steamy encounters, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which plays in the Arena Theatre from November 14-23, 2014.
Featuring two graduate students in their culminating thesis roles (Carolyn Conover as La Marquise de Merteuil and Kirill Sheynerman as Le Vicomte de Valmont), Les Liaisons Dangereuses is sure to delight audiences with its manipulative characters who use love and passion in a twisted game designed primarily for their own pleasure. Originally a 1784 novel by Choderlos de Laclos, these iconic characters have inspired multiple screen and stage versions including Dangerous Liaisons (1988), Valmont (1989) and Cruel Intentions (1999). This stage adaptation by Christopher Hampton focuses on the romantic and sexual gamesmanship of the libertines and how they use others as pawns.
Speaking of gamesmanship, Smith says, “Our production draws on the idea of games in multiple ways. The designers have incorporated imagery of playing cards, as well as the playful spirit of the rococo. The actors’ rehearsal process included developing moments of game-play within the scenes. In addition to metaphors of games that existed in the 18th century, such as chess and tennis, we incorporated contemporary games like Hearts, ‘Mother, May I,’ and ‘Red Light, Green Light.’” Smith leaves us with this final thought, “Though the story is steeped in the eighteenth century, Hampton’s play uses modern language, encouraging us to think about the destructive qualities of desire as they exist in the world today.”
Performances held in the Arena Theatre at MSU Auditorium from November 14-23.
Friday, November 14, 2014 at 8:00pm
Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 2:00pm
Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 8:00pm
*Sunday, November 16, 2014 at 2:00pm
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at 7:30pm
**Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 7:30pm
Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 7:30pm
Friday, November 21, 2014 at 8:00pm
Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 8:00pm
Sunday, November 23, 2014 at 2:00pm
* Pre-Show Director Discussion Sunday, November 16, 2014 at 1:15 PM
** Post-Show Discussion on Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Tickets are available from the Wharton Center Box Office; 1.800.WHARTON; www.whartoncenter.com.
Box office at Arena Theatre opens 1 hour prior to each performance with house doors opening 30 minutes prior.
General Admission $10.
Arena Theatre at MSU Auditorium
Michigan State University, 542 Auditorium Road, East Lansing, 48824.
For more information and the entire 2014-15 season of “Power Plays” visit theatre.msu.edu
Tickets are now on sale
Dan Smith directs the final offering of 2014 at the MSU Department of Theatre: a dark comedy with scorching dialogue and steamy encounters, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which plays in the Arena Theatre from November 14-23, 2014.
Featuring two graduate students in their culminating thesis roles (Carolyn Conover as La Marquise de Merteuil and Kirill Sheynerman as Le Vicomte de Valmont), Les Liaisons Dangereuses is sure to delight audiences with its manipulative characters who use love and passion in a twisted game designed primarily for their own pleasure. Originally a 1784 novel by Choderlos de Laclos, these iconic characters have inspired multiple screen and stage versions including Dangerous Liaisons (1988), Valmont (1989) and Cruel Intentions (1999). This stage adaptation by Christopher Hampton focuses on the romantic and sexual gamesmanship of the libertines and how they use others as pawns.
Speaking of gamesmanship, Smith says, “Our production draws on the idea of games in multiple ways. The designers have incorporated imagery of playing cards, as well as the playful spirit of the rococo. The actors’ rehearsal process included developing moments of game-play within the scenes. In addition to metaphors of games that existed in the 18th century, such as chess and tennis, we incorporated contemporary games like Hearts, ‘Mother, May I,’ and ‘Red Light, Green Light.’” Smith leaves us with this final thought, “Though the story is steeped in the eighteenth century, Hampton’s play uses modern language, encouraging us to think about the destructive qualities of desire as they exist in the world today.”
Performances held in the Arena Theatre at MSU Auditorium from November 14-23.
Friday, November 14, 2014 at 8:00pm
Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 2:00pm
Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 8:00pm
*Sunday, November 16, 2014 at 2:00pm
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at 7:30pm
**Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 7:30pm
Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 7:30pm
Friday, November 21, 2014 at 8:00pm
Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 8:00pm
Sunday, November 23, 2014 at 2:00pm
* Pre-Show Director Discussion Sunday, November 16, 2014 at 1:15 PM
** Post-Show Discussion on Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Tickets are available from the Wharton Center Box Office; 1.800.WHARTON; www.whartoncenter.com.
Box office at Arena Theatre opens 1 hour prior to each performance with house doors opening 30 minutes prior.
General Admission $10.
Arena Theatre at MSU Auditorium
Michigan State University, 542 Auditorium Road, East Lansing, 48824.
For more information and the entire 2014-15 season of “Power Plays” visit theatre.msu.edu
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