Dangerous Liaisons After the epistolary novel by Pierre-Ambroise-François Choderlos de Laclos, Quartett by Heiner Müller / Dangerous Liaisons by Christopher Hampton

The Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont enjoy the dangerous and malicious game of love and desire. They devise ingenious experiments born out of ennui, a craving for pleasure and greed for power over other people’s bodies and souls, delighting in their numerous victims. Merteuil’s cousin, Madam de Volanges, wants her daughter Cécile to marry the Comte de Gercourt, who was until recently the Marquise’s lover but who has now abandoned her. The Marquise plots her revenge. She finally persuades the Vicomte de Valmont, her former lover, to deflower Cécile. At the same time, Valmont, who believes his powers of seduction to be irresistible, feels himself drawn by the challenge presented by the virtuous, young and beautiful Madam de Tourvel. She, however, is married and would never deceive her husband. This inflames Valmont all the more, and he deploys all his seductive charms until Madam de Tourvel is convinced that his love his genuine. But neither Merteuil nor Valmont are able to abide by the perfidious rules of the game they themselves have devised. In the end the two libertines’ »game of war« has no winner. Their weapons prove unequal to true feelings.
Eva Maria Voigtländer