THE TRUTH Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue

LAUGHING AT LIES It’s ten years since Florian Zeller’s elegantly embroidered trompe l’oeil sex-comedy about two couples opened at the Menier under LIndsay Posner’s direction (it’s him again for this revival). In summer 2016, we swooned and five-starred it with delight, revelling in sharply mischievous Gallic callousness; it coasted into the West End with an Olivier nomination. Christopher Hampton’s translation is perfect. It’s simple enough to start with: Michel is sleeping with his best friend Paul’s wife, lying constantly to his own wife Laurence, who plainly sees through him while pretending not to. He constantly talks with sympathy and devotion of how much he loves his friend Paul, including to Paul’s wife while they’re together. Paul himself may or may not know what’s going on: the situation knots, unknots, and almost resolves: at various stages two of the foursome seem to be the victims of it all, but are they? The role of Michel needs blusterous comic talent, which is supplied…