The Lie

by Florian Zeller

seen at the Menier Chocolate Factory on 29 September 2017

Lindsay Ponsner directs Christopher Hampton's version of Zeller's new play with Samantha Bond as Alice, Tony Gardner as Paul, Alexandra Gilbreath as Laurence and Alexander Hanson as Michel.

Anna Fleischle has designed a stylish French apartment's living room for a very stylish and very French play about the thorny issues of lying, being honest, being tactful and being deceitful, set around Alice's disquiet at hosting her husband's friend Michel and his wife in the evening after by chance seeing Michel kissing another woman in the street during the afternoon. Paul argues that neither Michel nor Laurence should be confronted - it is Michel's business and not theirs to interfere - but this raises large questions about honesty amongst friends and in a marriage, with spiralling and unforeseen consequences for all concerned.

The pace is hectic and the situation broadly comic, while the dialogue is crystal sharp and thus mercilessly funny and mercilessly probing, often at the same moment. There are fascinating tensions between Alice and Paul, which Samantha Bond conveys by eloquent pauses and interesting facial tics, while Tony Gardner attempts to hold his own with bluff (but increasingly fragile) self assurance. The visiting friends are less sharply drawn - the bulk of the interest lies with the hosts - but Alexandra Gilbreath gives a sultry and enigmatic performance as Laurence while Alexander Hanson covers his position with plausible rationality.

The whole piece is acerbic but highly enjoyable, with a wonderfully clever conclusion shining a new light on all that we have been shown before. Once again the Menier Chocolate Factory provides a theatrical treat.