At its core, ‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses’ is a play about love and lust, manipulation and deceit. On the surface, though, it’s a play about sex.

By my unofficial count, six characters in a 10-person cast fooled around with at least two people during the course of the story – a salacious and lustful web more complicated than the British Royal Family tree. Only after absorbing this series of wild romps can we begin to understand the meaning lying beneath the mayhem.

Based on the 18th century French novel of the same title, ‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses’ focuses on the sexual escapades of a group of Parisian aristocrats shortly before the French Revolution. The show opened Friday night at Syracuse Stage, kicking off the 2007-08 season.

The plot revolves around a simple deal between two former lovers. But even a simple deal becomes complicated quickly. Bear with me – this could get messy.

La Marquise de Merteuil (Susannah Livingston), a wealthy middle-aged woman with a disdain for true love, is determined to corrupt the innocent Cecile de Volanges (SU senior Kirstin Dahmer). Cecile recently came out of a convent, forced by her mother to marry a former lover of Merteuil.

Looking for revenge, Merteuil asks the handsome and heartless Le Vicomte de Valmont (John G. Preston) to seduce young Cecile. But Valmont is already busy with another project – wooing the pious and virtuous (and married) Madame de Tourvel (Kelly Mares). Merteuil bets Valmont will not seduce Tourvel and agrees to sleep with Valmont if he succeeds.

To further confuse the situation, Cecile falls in love with her music tutor, Le Chevalier Danceny (Matthew Stucky), and begins questioning her arranged marriage.

If the plot sounds familiar, well, it is. ‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses’ is the inspiration for 1999 film ‘Cruel Intentions.’ Move the story from 18th century Paris to 20th century New York, and you have the idea.

Acting as relationship counselors for the young lovers, Merteuil and Valmont work their conspiracy with ease. Valmont seduces both of his prizes, furthering his lady killer reputation. Of course, when Valmont realizes his true love for Tourvel, everything begins to fall apart.

For an American audience, it can be tough to follow all the French names. I wasn’t matching names with faces until the second act.

Throughout the play, it appears Valmont and Merteuil are working together, wielding sex as a weapon for sport. But, truly, Merteuil is the puppeteer working her magic on everyone else. Everyone trusts Merteuil, and she knows how to use that to her advantage.

Merteuil is a cross between a Greek goddess and Cruella De Vil – powerful enough to mastermind an elaborate scheme and evil enough to care only about herself. Like a deity, the other characters adore and worship her, regardless of her selfishness and lies. She even convinces Valmont to dump Tourvel, despite the couple’s love.

Livingston’s performance as this terrible woman is outstanding from opening line to curtain call. Her calming delivery and body language shows a character comfortable in any situation, perfectly in control of everything around her. Tourvel doesn’t care about love; she cares about pleasure.

Her greatest success is secretly manipulating the seemingly impervious Valmont. He’s the man no woman can resist, and he knows it. Preston plays the role confidently, approaching women with ease.

Still, Cecile’s disappearance in the second act was a disappointment. Dahmer’s portrayal of a virginal but sexually curious Catholic schoolgirl was irresistibly cute. It would’ve been nice to see more of her and less of MacEwan as Volanges. Her crying, whining and complaining shtick became tiresome before intermission.

As a general comment, every character spoke with a British accent, probably trying to represent high society. The accents were believable – if the show actually took place in England. The entire story happens in France.

The show lagged as time went on. When the conspiracy begins to unravel, the result is disappointing. It’s ambiguous as to whether or not Tourvel ultimately reaches the tragic finish she deserves. But Tourvel is so deliciously evil, it would be nice, for once, to see the bad guy win.

Published on September 30, 2007 at 12:00 pm