While it is brilliantly funny on the surface, Florian Zeller brilliantly also asks deeper questions about the lies that we tell ourselves.
If you are looking for a brilliantly sharp witted comedy to enjoy this summer then you will want to head to the Apollo Theatre to catch Lindsay Posner’s delightful production of Florian Zeller’s play.
A tale of secrets, infidelity and alibis going wrong, The Truth follows two couples at different points in their relationships with their spouses – with an affair that lies at the heart of the story that brings their relationships even more entangled.
The story begins as Michel emerges from a rumpled bed next to Alice, who is the wife of his best friend Paul, while Michel is married to Laurence. Over the course of 90 minutes, the stories that both Alice and Michel tell to their partners become increasingly ludicrous effect and eventually bringing the affair to light. The humour is sharp and light throughout as Alice and Michel in particular ask questions of themselves as to what truth really means.
But there is plenty of twists and surprises along the way as the audience tries to untangle the web of deceit and requires the supremely talented cast to constantly keep up with every layer of story and deceit that unfolds.
Christopher Hampton’s adaptation retains many French names and places that ensures the sharpness of the story and comedy is retained effectively. His understanding of Zeller’s work is exquisite (not surprising considering he is the regular of translating Zeller’s plays), instantly ensuring that the audience is swept into the world that the playwright has created.
Director Lindsay Posner has really drawn out the best performances from the cast that ensures that the audience is thoroughly engaged and entertained from start to finish. There is never a line or moment wasted here – to give any spoilers as to how it unfolds wouldn’t be fair so do go and see this show for yourself!
The key to it working so well is the way in which the differences between the characters as individuals all work together to showcase the different ways in which people can be deceived – although it is only at the climax of the show that you know which character has been completely fooled.
Every scene has been intimately staged, drawing you into how the characters are connected and their differing relationships.
At the centre of it all, it is really delightful to see how Stephen Mangan as Michel deals with getting increasingly caught in the web of deception and not quite knowing where to turn to – the way in which he delivers the character’s increasing confusion and exasperation is completely delightful to watch (if occasionally slightly over the top). Elsewhere, Janie Dee as Michel’s wife Laurence is definitely a more subtle and mysterious character as you can never truly tell what she is thinking it is a cool and calculative performance that works well for the character.
Sarah Hadland adds extra depth as Alice as she begins to question the wiseness of the affair. There is a gravity to her performance in many respects – but she absolutely knows how to deliver the sharp comedy of the script as naturally as possible at the same time. Meanwhile, Ardal O’Hanlon portrays Paul as a somewhat naive character with hidden depths that is really unexpected as the show goes on handling each exposure of the story brilliantly well.
Overall, The Truth is a delightful addition to the West End, ensuring plenty of laughs and entertainment from start to finish. Worth catching if you can.
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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