WOKINGHAM Theatre kicks off 2025 with The Truth, a modern comedy drama about two couples.
Infidelity runs rife and we are never quite sure what is truth and which are the lies.
The original play was written in French by Florian Zeller, who also wrote The Father.
This translation is by Christopher Hampton, who wrote the play adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, both of which WT staged in 2022.
We sat down with director Rachel Pearson and cast member Adrian McDougall to hear what audiences can expect from the first play of the new year.
Without giving too much away, what is the play about?
Rachel: “It’s set in modern day Paris and centres around Michel, who’s married but having an affair with his best friend’s wife.
“Michel attempts to stay in charge as things in his life run out of control, mostly due to his own doing.
“It’s called The Truth, but really it’s more about lying.
What is the play’s style?
Rachel: “It’s a comedy drama, and quite farcical in places, but these are truthful characters.
“Michel gets himself into ridiculous situations.”
Adrian: “Yes, Michel has shades of Basil Fawlty, or of Ross from Friends.
“He’s quite smart, but at the same time unaware of how emotionally stunted he is.”
Adrian, your character is in every scene, at the centre of every relationship within the play, and has to juggle all the different dynamics. What’s that like to play?
Adrian: “Michel’s an amazing character, and I feel very lucky to play him.
“He always answers a question with another question, and he’s always making up stories, or finding ways around things.
“He thinks he’s totally in control, but he spends his entire life double-checking what everyone says, and trying not to give anything away.”
“And every scene reveals a new twist, so that just when audiences think they’ve got it, the next scene changes everything, and they’ll be asking themselves, ‘what the heck just happened?’”
What makes the play so funny?
Rachel: “It’s so precisely written as well, very sparing in its language.
“The humour is in every phrase, and every pause.
Adrian: “And it’s the excruciating situations this guy gets himself into – the things he says, the lies he tells.
“It’s an interesting mix of comedy and farce, but with a real heart to it and a moral backbone, which I really like.”
Rachel: “If the audience don’t laugh when Michael lies, they’ll gasp with incredulity at how outrageously he fibs.
Adrian: “He thinks he’s protecting people with his lies, like it comes from a good place, deep down.”
“But when things start to go wrong, and he starts to lose the plot, it’s a lot of fun to play, as the stakes get higher and higher.”
What can audiences expect in terms of the technical side of the production?
Rachel: “We have a clever, interactive design for our set and lighting, and there’s great music between every scene to give the audience a moment to reflect on what’s just happened.”
How do you hope audiences feel watching this play?
Rachel: “I hope they’ll have had a really fun evening and laughed a lot.
“I think it’s one of those plays they’ll be chatting about in the bar afterwards.
There are some interesting questions asked about the nature of lying, and why we feel the need to lie.
“Indeed, who is lying? Who did what? Who knows what?
“It’ll get people talking, and I think they’re in for a very entertaining evening.
Adrian: I first read The Truth in bed, and had to try not to wake up my wife because I kept wanting to laugh out loud.
“I hope the audience enjoys it just as much.”
The Truth can be seen at Wokingham Theatre from Thursday, January 23 through to Saturday, February 1, with the exception of Sunday.
The bar is open from 7.pm, with performances starting at 7.45pm.
Tickets cost £16.
For tickets and information, visit: wokinghamtheatre.org.uk
