The Truth at Apollo Theatre review: Manic Mangan excels in this polished French infidelity comedy

Best known here for his emotionally gruelling stage trilogy The Father, The Mother and The Son, French writer Florian Zeller took a diversion into that Gallic staple, the existential sex comedy, in this 2011 work. Stephen Mangan’s Michel, embroiled in an affair with his best friend Paul’s wife Alice, becomes trapped in a web of deceit between them and his own wife Laurence so absurd yet profound the very idea of truth collapses.

Despite its loftier ambitions the play functions as a manically effervescent, farcical comedy of manners in Lindsay Posner’s starry, polished revival, expertly translated by Zeller’s trusted collaborator Christopher Hampton. This is a glossy, old-fashioned West End night out, and none the worse for that.