There’s no doubt that Florian Zeller’s hit show is a strong play. Londoners have long enjoyed the Frenchman’s work, including this comedy of manners about adultery, and this revival of Lindsay Posner’s production goes all out to entertain.
The focus is Michel, who is having an affair with his best friend’s wife, Alice. The twists surrounding what their respective spouses know and the games both couples play lead to a lot of fun with some great lines – all impressively far from your average farce.
Being French, Zeller brings a philosophical flair to his writing. The quartet debates the value of the truth, weaponising the concept with varying degrees of success. Such concerns are tamed by Posner, possibly with an eye on his cast. How much the play suffers from this is up for discussion.
The material allows some bluntness, especially with the role of Michel, played by Stephen Mangan, who emphasises this. Michel is the arch hypocrite and a bit of a fool – in short, very much in Mangan’s theatrical wheelhouse. It works because he is good at this and because he is so well supported. Sarah Hadland allows his mistress a suitably forceful edge and is on fine comic form. Ardal O’Hanlon, as the cuckold and betrayed best friend, gives an impressively understated performance that gets big laughs. An underused Janie Dee oozes sophistication as Michel’s wife.
All the characters have secrets, and the skilled performances make the most of these. But defining them all in relation to Michel points towards a question. Has The Truth been turned into more of a star vehicle than might be wise? Mangan may strike you as too bumbling, too British, but he gets the laughs, the audience loves him and he deserves his time in the spotlight. Even if there’s the suspicion that the comedy could have more bite, it’s no lie to say that this is an enjoyable affair.
Until 12 September 2026
Photo by Johan Persson