'Dangerous Liaisons' at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

Rick Pender
CityBeat

Perhaps you’ve seen the cinematic version of Christopher Hampton’s "Dangerous Liaisons," the story of manipulative seduction by a pair of idle 18th-century aristocrats in pre-Revolutionary France who cynically decide to indulge in duplicity and passion to pass the time and amuse themselves. The 1988 film featured Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Uma Thurman and Michelle Pfeiffer.

But experiencing the story with live actors in an intimate theatrical setting makes it feel all the more “dangerous,” and that’s what Cincinnati Shakespeare Company has to offer in its upcoming production. Longtime favorite CSC actors Giles Davies and Corinne Mohlenhoff portray the devious pair, Vicomte de Valmont and the Marquise de Merteuil; Bailie Breaux and Kelly Mengelkoch are their innocent prey. Drew Fracher is directing the show; he staged last season’s successful production of Sense & Sensibility. Thursday-Sunday. Through March 10. $22-$32. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 719 Race St., Downtown. 513-381-2273, cincyshakes.com .