NY Theater: “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” and
“Boeing Boeing,” from sex melodrama to farce by Lucy KomisarSex games with multiple lovers. There’s nothing new about the theme, but Broadway now gives us a chance to see how past and modern French writers have dealt with such entanglements of a very explicit sort. The first is a modern American adaptation of a dark 18th century French novel by Pierre-Ambroise-Francois Choderlos de Laclos. The second is a boisterous French farce. Both are revivals. “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” written in 1985 by playwright Christopher Hampton, is about sex as an instrument of manipulation and revenge. A steely woman and her complicit ex-lover plot the seduction of women to get revenge against third parties. However, “Boeing Boeing” (named after the plane) is all in good fun: a high-spirited bachelor plays lover to three air hostesses who fly in and out of Orly. While the victims of “Liaisons” are really victims, the air hostesses are all having a good time, and some play the multiple lovers game as well.  “Liaisons” has been a favorite of theatrical producers, who have turned it into avant garde fare as well as naturalistic productions. Here staged by Rufus Norris for the Roundabout Theatre Company with lush costumes, double-entendres and a bit of nudity, the subplot is the evil of the ancient régime just before the Revolution dispatched aristocrats from their palaces. Seen this way, the play is as much a representation of the corruption of the French nobility as a sexual treatise. However it is viewed, Norris’ production and the company’s acting are mesmerizing.
The events occur in salons and bedrooms in villas and châteaux around Paris in the 1780s. The villains, the steely Marquises de Merteui (Laura Linney) and the smooth Vicomte de Valmont (Ben Daniels), appear to be in their 30s. Merteui’s lover Gercourt has left her for the ex-mistress of her ex-lover, Valmont. Now, Gercourt, who is 36, wants to marry Cécile Volanges (Mamie Gummer), just 15, because she is blonde and convent-educated. Merteuil asks Valmont to seduce the young woman for revenge. But Valmont has his own plan -- to seduce the refined Madame de Tourvel (Jessica Collins) who is 22 and married 2 years. It’s a game for him. He declares: “To seduce a woman famous for strict morals, religious fervor and the happiness of her marriage: what could possibly be more prestigious?” His definition of passion is “not the kind we’re used to, which is as cold as it’s superficial….I want the excitement of watching her betray everything that’s most important to her.”  Merteuil accuses him of being in love. And he proposes in return that she be unfaithful to her lover, his friend, with him. She promises him a “reward” if he succeeds with Madame de Tourvel. At his aunt’s château, where Mme de Tourvel is visiting, Valmont learns that Mme de Volanges has warned Tourvel against him. That prompts him to get his own revenge by participating in Merteuil’s plot to seduce Cécile.
If this seems a bit like a steamy soap opera combined with sexual musical chairs, the soaps have never attained such raunchy decadence. Sex here is erotic but also joyless, a weapon. Merteuil admits, “I was born to dominate your sex and avenge my own.” She declares that women have to learn to manipulate and be deceitful in order finesse their powerlessness before men. Without giving away the plot, let’s just say that the sexual schemes are accomplished and Cécile, Tourvel and Valmont are destroyed. The vengeful Merteuil survives.  “Boeing Boeing,” written in 1962 by Marc Camoletti, on the other hand, is a much too silly romp that turns out well for all. Bernard (Bradley Whitford), an American architect living in Paris, is having affairs with three air hostesses: Gloria of TWA (Kathryn Hahn), Gabriella of Alitalia (Gina Gershon) and Gretchen of Lufthansa (Mary McCormack). They fly in and out of Paris, landing at the apartment on schedules carefully monitored by Bernard by using a book of international flight listings. (Over-lappers are taken to the suburbs.) The actors all over-play their roles, which may be called for, since taking all the nonsense seriously would make the story even more ridiculous.
Bernard’s penchant to see his relationships as a game is reminiscent of Valmont. On the other hand, he does not deliberately hurt anyone. You feel a lot better when one of the air hostesses turns out to have her own second and third lovers in Mexico and Los Angeles and when another gets a yen for Bernard’s school friend, Robert (Mark Rylance), who has paid a surprise visit after a dozen years. In “Boeing Boeing,” the notion of seducing someone else’s lover is a joke. Robert invites Gretchen to go out: “There’s no risk,” he assures her. “You’re big enough. I mean, capable enough to look after yourself, if you really think I’ll make a pass at you.” Gretchen says, “I forbid you to make a pass at me!” Robert: “But it’s only a bit of fun…”  Unlike the targets of “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” this young lady can take care of herself. (And even takes care of Robert at a certain moment.)
Gretchen replies: “Yes, but I know all about French fun. It’s a dangerous kind of fun….When we were out in the country, in the dark, in your car, I suppose you’d get carried away again. You’d pounce on me.” Robert: “Pounce on you in my car? Impossible!” Gretchen: “I don’t believe you anymore!” Robert: “I haven’t got a car. We’ll take a taxi and there will be a driver. I could say to him ‘This lady’s rather nervous so would you mind coming and sitting in the back with us.’” But Gretchen isn’t having any. She declares, “I’m not going. I’ve had enough. You come in here like some dreadful…. Think up all sorts of devilish plots, try and get me away from my fiancé and up some pitch black country lane. Well, you want me to go out!” Robert: “Yes.” Gretchen ripostes, “Right! I’ll go fetch my jacket and go…On my own!” The sixties was a time of explosive sexual liberation, especially for women. If you think of it that way, maybe “Boeing Boeing” is, like “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” a commentary on the sexual mores of the time, which for independent women with jobs were a two-century improvement! “Les Liaisons Dangereuses.” Written by Christopher Hampton from the novel by Pierre-Ambroise-Francois Choderlos de Laclos. Directed by Rufus Norris. Starring Laura Linney, Ben Daniels, Jessica Collins, Mamie Gummer, Kristine Nielsen, Benjamin Walker, Rosie Benton, Derek Cecil, Kevin Duda, Delphi Harrington, Tim McGeever, Nicole Orth-Pallavicini, Jane Pfitsch. Sets by Scott Pask. Lighting by Donald Holder. Costumes by Katrina Lindsay. Roundabout Theatre Company at American Airlines Theatre, 227 West 42 St. Tue - Sat at 8pm; Wed, Sat, Sun at 2pm Running time 2:45. $56.25 - $101.25. 212-719-1300. Through July 6, 2008. http://dangerousonbroadway.com/. “Boeing Boeing.” Written by Marc Camoletti, translated by Beverley Cross & Francis Evans. Directed by Matthew Warchus. Starring Christine Baranski, Mark Rylance, Bradley Whitford, Gina Gershon, Kathryn Hahn, Mary McCormack. Sets and Costumes by Rob Howell. Longacre Theatre, 220 West 48 St. Tue at 7pm; Wed - Sat at 8pm; Wed & Sat at 2pm; Sun at 3pm. Running time 2:40. $26.50 - $251.50. 212-239-6200. http://BoeingOnBroadway.com/. Photos by Joan Marcus. | 