LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES (PLAY)

 

Written by Christopher Hampton

from the novel by Choderlos De Laclos

Directed By Lainie Hart

Canberra REP production

Canberra REP Theatre to 9 May

 

Reviewed by Len Power 29 April 2026

 

Playwright Christopher Hampton’s literate 1985 play, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, is based on the famous and scandalous at the time French novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, written in 1782. People of a certain age will know it from the excellent film made in 1988 of Hampton’s play. It was powerful stuff then, and it remains just as powerful nearly 40 years later in this fine stage production by Canberra REP.

Two aristocrats, the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, enjoy using sex as a weapon of humiliation and degradation. It’s all a game to them but they devastate the lives of their targets, married woman, Madame de Tourvel, and the young and innocent, Cécile de Volanges. Fate ultimately takes its revenge on the pair of schemers.

Jordan Best (Marquise de Merteuil) and Jim Adamik (Vicomte de Valmont)

There are some outstanding performances in this production. Jordan Best is a formidable and evil Marquise de Merteuil and Jim Adamik is a powerful Vicomte de Valmont. They both present highly believable characters throughout the play and are particularly effective as their characters realize they have become victims of their own vile games. In their many scenes together, they are skilful in their timing of the dialogue and in their non-verbal interaction.

Yanina Clifton as Madame de Tourvel and Jamie Johnston as the young Cecile de Volanges, the two victims, give strong, emotional performances and Ros Engledow, Desiree Bandle, Isaiah Pritchard and Jack Shanahan are also very effective in their characterizations.

A feature of this production that involves many scene changes is the way they are smoothly handled by the actors playing the servants. The period set, very well designed by Kayla Ciceran, provides several acting areas for the different scenes and Nathan Sciberras’s lighting design is particularly effective in adding to the period atmosphere. The colourful period costumes by Helen Drum are attractive.

Director, Lainie Hart, clearly had a vision here. Her thoughtful and meticulous direction shows in every aspect of this production.

 

Photo by Ross Gould

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.

 

CONSTELLATIONS (PLAY)

 

Written by Nick Payne

Directed by Kelly Somes

Free-Rain Theatre production

ACT Hub Theatre, Kingston to 25 April

 

Reviewed by Len Power 17 April 2026

 

On the surface, “Constellations” sounds like a simple romantic drama – a couple’s chance meeting, emotional involvement, a breakup and then reunion and marriage. But life is not as simple as that. Mix in theoretical physics and the chance to consider the number of choices we could make as we interact with others, and you have the structure for a fascinating and compelling play.

Written in 2012, Nick Payne’s play explores life through maths and science. Do we have free-will or are we just “particles governed by a series of very particular laws being knocked…around all over the place.”? Audiences should be allowed to discover the unique structure of this play for themselves.

The author, Nick Payne, has a finely tuned ear for natural dialogue and human interaction. We can easily identify with his characters and their stories.

Director, Kelly Somes, keeps the focus firmly on dialogue and character with a bare stage and three chairs. The audience is seated on all four sides of the action, giving an intense intimacy to this production.

Lucy Goleby (Marianne)

 Lucy Goleby plays Marianne, a theoretical physicist. James O’Connell plays beekeeper, Roland. Both give carefully nuanced performances of great depth and sensitivity. They meet the challenge of the multi-layered script with skill, making each moment highly believable. Their playing of the final sequence is touching and memorable.

James O'Connell (Roland)

Both performers and the director have personal connections to Canberra. The choice of “Constellations” for their return here is an excellent showcase for the trio and a gift for local audiences.

 

Photos by Janelle McMenamin.

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.

 

JULIUS CAESAR (PLAY)

 

Written by William Shakespeare

Directed by Peter Evans

Bell Shakespeare

The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre to 18 April

 

Reviewed by Len Power 11 April 2026

 

When you think over what you have just seen in Bell Shakespeare’s production of “Julius Caesar”, an uneasiness settles over you. There is the brutal murder of Caesar, of course, but then one of the killers, Brutus, convinces us in a speech that Caesar’s assassination was necessary. Mark Antony’s speech that follows quickly and easily moves us to the opposite view. We realize that we have been manipulated by both speakers with just the power of words.

Shakespeare is a master of rhetoric. From the start of the play characters are continually swayed by words that influence, appeal to the emotions and motivate. Peter Evans’ production stresses the effect of the power of words, showing us how easily we can be manipulated. The strong message of the play is easily applied to modern day life and world politics.

The play covers three years from Caesar’s triumphant return to Rome after a war with the sons of Pompey, to his assassination and then the defeat of the killers at the Battle of Philippi.

Brigid Zengeni (Brutus) and Leon Ford (Cassius)

Fine character studies are provided by every member of the cast. Septimus Caton is a strong but charming and charismatic Julius Caesar. Brutus is played by Brigid Zengeni with a warmth and humanity that clearly shows the conflict within the character. Her performance is highly convincing.

Mark Leonard Winter (Mark Antony)

As Mark Antony, Mark Leonard Winter gives a superb performance of his “Friends, Romans, Countryman” speech. That we view his character so differently before and after that moment shows the skill and thought that has gone into his performance.

Septimus Caton (Julius Caesar) and the assassins

There is fine work also by Leon Ford as Cassius who convinces as one of the conspirators, Peter Carroll in a subtle and clever portrayal of Casca and Jules Billington as a warm and caring Portia.

The excellent lighting design by Amelia Lever-Davidson is complex and adds considerable atmosphere to the simple but cleverly designed set by the director, Peter Evans. Simone Romaniuk’s costumes are nicely modern with a suggestion of the original period of the play.

This Bell Shakespeare production succeeds with its clarity of the text, the fine performances of the cast and the convincing vision of the director.

 

Photos by Brett Boardman

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.