The endless fascination of evil

The OTTC excel themselves in this classic tale of sexual intrigue and manipulation.

The original novel was made up entirely of letters between the different characters. Christopher Hampton's stage version has a similarly artful approach, with short scenes flitting from parlour to boudoir and back again, and Michael Bull's production here is full of good things.

It is sumptuously costumed and intelligently lit, and the well experienced cast keep mostly right on top of the razor-edged dialogue and cynical repartee.

Lance Hodges is quietly in control of Valmont, the vainglorious Don Juan who is undone the moment any hint of sensitivity enters his soul. Wendy Vickery is his icy match as the scheming Marquise, driven by pride and devilment to prove once and for all that the female is deadlier than the male.

Their exchanges fairly crackle, and if the rest of the cast do not have quite the same opportunities there is good work too from the likes of Nancy Hollenbaugh, Ashley Heath and Sara Gillett.

The overall staging is deftly handled, so that even the repeated rolling and unrolling of bedding is slipped easily into the action.

The pace could perhaps be stepped up in the first half - too much languor weakens the play's fundamental energy - but this is a production the OTTC can add proudly to its laurels.

Roger Dean
The Evening Advertiser