In 1782, in the decadence of pre-revolutionary France, Pierre Choderlos de Laclos published a book called “Dangerous Liaisons.”

At the time, explains University professor George Contini, the book was thought scandalous and considered pornography, but this only served to make it more popular. Even Marie Antoinette – who used a book cover to make her copy look like the Bible – was a fan.

For its final performance this year, the Department of Theatre and Film Studies is producing its own version of “Dangerous Liaisons.”

The play will “explore themes of exhibitionism and voyeurism . and how these characters’ identities are formed by whether they are exhibitionists or voyeurs,” said Contini, the play’s director.

Because the play will be performed in the Cellar Theatre, the stage will be arranged so the audience can sit on both sides, and at times sheer curtains will veil the action.

“The audience is watching the audience watch the show,” Contini said of the play’s setup.

“Dangerous Liaisons” focuses on the complicated relationship between Merteuil and Valmont, two French aristocrats.

“Merteuil and Valmont are two very devious aristocrats with too much time on their hands, and they have made a game of seducing and sometimes ruining their fellow aristocrats,” said Ruth Crews, a master’s of fine arts student from Fayetteville, N.C., and the play’s assistant director and dramaturg.

Norman Ferguson, a master’s of fine arts student from Birmingham, Ala., plays Valmont. “He enjoys life. A lot of times he enjoys life at other people’s expense,” Ferguson said.

Koquina Forte, a master’s of fine arts student from Los Angeles, Calif., plays the Marquise de Merteuil.

“She is a woman who is very involved in getting revenge on people in society,” Forte said. “And in getting revenge, she has to manipulate people.”

The University’s production is a unique and modern take on the play.

One twist comes in the form of a character named Ourika, a Senegalese slave who in real life was raised as a daughter in the white French aristocracy, but found she was not fully accepted in society because of her race. The play adapts Ourika’s story, and she grows up to become Merteuil.

“I was very interested in finding what was the black experience in France in the nineteenth century, if there was one . because this role is not usually played by a black woman,” she said.

Forte said Contini chose to incorporate race as a part of the story rather than using makeup to downplay it.

Contini also took a unique approach to directing the play.

“I use a really different kind of directorial approach,” he said. “I’m really physically based and image-based.”

The show’s unique staging contributes to the way the audience will experience the play. In addition to the main story between Valmont and Merteuil, some characters from the book who were left out of the original play have been added back in. The different scenes will be played out simultaneously on different parts of the stage.

“We’ve tried to fill the stage,” Contini said. “We’re constantly changing perspective and view . If you came and saw this show two different times, you’d see a totally different show.”