WHY is it that wicked women are always so much more fun to play?
This was the question we asked Scottish actress Siobhan Redmond as she repares to squeeze into the tightest of corsets to play supervixen the Marquise de Merteuil in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Blackpool Grand Theatre.
"The Marquise is smart, funny and an enormous pleasure to play because she has so many layers of deceit.
"And I'm not a nasty person but it is great to have all those wonderfully witty yet terribly evil lines.
"And of course she's been played in the past by some tremendously talented actresses.
"But I've deliberately kept away from watching them as there's always someone who did it better than you unless the part is completely new.
"And I'm 40 now which I think is perfect for a woman to be an actress these days as there are some good meaty roles up for grabs."
And a trio of lucky Citizen readers could be enjoying the antics of the Marquise and her lover absolutely free in our latest competition.
The Marquise floats among the glittering salons of 18th century France with her lover Le Vicomte de Valmont, played by London's Burning actor Clive Wood, forming a truly dangerous liaison as they indulge in sexual power games and wicked webs of intrigue which ultimately lead to lust, betrayal and tragedy. The sultry star of BBC's Between The Lines and winner of best actress at the British Regional Theatre Awards also explained how she got the acting bug:
"My mother was this very beautiful amateur actress and I always wanted to do the same thing so I packed myself off to the Old Vic in Bristol and got stuck in.
"I love live theatre best of all as there is a new relationship with the audience every night and I revel in the physical environment of touring.
"Plus Blackpool is a great place to visit. I was in a film called Al Fresco that was filmed here and I just love seaside towns."
An Oscar winning movie in 1988 starring Glenn Close and John Malkovich, Les Liaisons Dangereuses adapted for the stage by the award-winning Christopher Hampton, marks the 15th anniversary tour for the Mobil Touring Theatre with direction from Peter Wilson.
To be in with a chance to win simply answer the following question:
Who played the Marquise in the 1988 Oscar-winning film?
Answers on a postcard to: Liaison Competition, The Citizen, St Annes Buildings, Clifton Drive North, St Annes, FY8 2NA, to include a daytime telephone number and to arrive no later than April 21.
Winners will attend the April 22 performance.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses runs at Blackpool Grand Theatre from April 18 to 22 at 7.30pm plus matinee performances.
For tickets from £8 and further details call the box office on (01253) 290190.
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