Review: The Truth, Apollo Theatre ★★★★

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive.”

Michel binds himself tighter and tighter in his own lies as The Truth unfolds. He begins aloof, charming, and pleasantly inattentive, but as the play progresses, Stephen Mangan’s performance evolves into a masterclass of exaggerated dishevelment and spiralling panic, leaving him caught in ever more ridiculous situations.

Written by Florian Zeller, the Oscar-winning French playwright best known for his deeply psychological drama The Father, this Olivier-nominated comedy is something different entirely. Farce isn’t meant for profound philosophical depth; rather, it serves as a witty, amusing diversion about deceit (even if it does leave you contemplating whether we really want the absolute truth). Over a tight ninety minutes with no interval, Zeller expertly constructs a sparkling satire on the value of honesty itself.

The premise is deceptively simple: Michel (Mangan) is married to Laurence (Janie Dee), while his best friend Paul (Ardal O’Hanlon) is married to Alice (Sarah Hadland). Michel has something to hide, but what makes the dynamic so remarkable is how quickly everyone else seems to have the upper hand. While Paul, Alice, and Laurence quietly navigate the situation with sharp intuition, Michel remains oblivious, desperately performing to keep his tangled web intact.

This deft French farce hinges on sharp comic timing and pregnant pauses, and director Lindsay Posner alongside his superb cast understand this completely. Without the right pause, sigh, or look, a play like this falls flat, but here the audience was consistently laughing heartily. Hadland and Dee are excellent, while O’Hanlon keeps Paul understated right up until he reveals his crafty cards.

Enhancing the performance is Lizzie Clachan’s very clever set, which oozes bourgeois certainty. It moves seamlessly between two households, two hotel rooms, a locker room, and a surgery, giving each location impressive depth and precision so you know exactly where you are, offering a glimpse into their comfortable, prosperous lives. (One quick caveat: if you’re sitting in the balcony, the projected scene titles become invisible.)

Driven by flawless comic timing and an unravelling Mangan, The Truth is an absolute delight. A good time is very much guaranteed.