Attention literature lovers! The great classic Les Liaisons Dangereuses is playing at the Comédie des Champs-Élysées until April 27, 2025. Pierre Choderlos de Laclos 's epistolary novel has been interpreted many times in film, television and theater, and this time Arnaud Denis is in charge of the staging.
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Les Liaisons Dangereuses, a novel adapted for the Comédie des Champs-Elysées, tells the story of seduction and manipulation in the French aristocracy. The Vicomte de Valmont and the Marquise de Merteuil, two cynical, manipulative aristocrats, enjoy controlling the feelings of others for their own pleasure and revenge. Together, they orchestrate plots to ruin the reputations of more vulnerable characters, such as the young Cécile de Volanges and the pious Madame de Tourvel.
In this adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, director Arnaud Denis has cut and added new elements to the letters written by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. It's a risky gamble, but one that seems to have gone down well with audiences, as the play has been extended at the Comédie des Champs-Elysées. The cast includes Delphine Depardieu, Valentin de Carbonnières, Salomé Villiers, Michèle André and Pierre Devaux.
Pierre Choderlos de Laclos is best known for his only novel, Les Liaisons dangereuses, published in 1782. Wishing to write a work that would leave a lasting impression, he decided to embark on this daring epistolary novel, which explores the themes of manipulation, seduction and moral corruption in the French aristocracy. A success, the novel is still being adapted for the stage, notably at the Comédie des Champs-Élysées until April 27, 2025.
Our review:
Whether you're a fan of classical theater or drawn to more contemporary forms, this adaptation strikes a subtle balance between tradition and modernity, capable of appealing to a wide audience. The period costumes, uncluttered staging and meticulous set design enable Arnaud Denis to make classical theater both readable and lively.
The director's bold choice to enrich the original text with dramaturgical additions proves a resounding success, supported by a committed cast. Delphine Depardieu, named Best Actress in a Private Theatre Production at the 2025 Molières, plays a Marquise de Merteuil who is both chilling and fascinating. Opposite her, Valentin de Carbonnières portrays an odious yet fearsomely seductive Vicomte de Valmont. Their duet creates a permanent tension between manipulation, desire and strategy.
This reinterpretation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses both disturbs and amuses, confirming the success ofArnaud Denis's stage challenge.
Dates and Opening Time
From November 22, 2024 to April 27, 2025
Location
Comédie des Champs-Elysées
15 avenue Montaigne
75008 Paris 8
Booking
www.comediedeschampselysees.com
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