Florian Zeller, the multi-award winning French novelist and playwright, is having as big a success on the London stage as he is having on the Paris stage.
In The Lie Zeller argues there are times when it is better to lie than to tell the truth; and especially so, if you are cheating on your husband, your wife or your lover. The play is a typical French boulevard comedy, very witty, very cynical and very chic. It is acted without interval and lasts 90 minutes.
What would you do if you knew your best friend was being deceived? Would you tell them or would you say nothing? There are dangers and repercussions either way. The husband and wife in this play tell so many outrageous lies that it is impossible for the audience to keep up.
Zeller writes in an elegant and stylish manner which reaches back to the aristocratic artifice of Alfred de Musset in the 19th century and of Marivaux in the 18th century. Samantha Bond and Alexander Hanson, husband wife in real life, are very skilful at High Comedy and play off each other beautifully.