The Truth

by Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton (Translator)

Two couples. Friendship, suspicion, deceit. And the truth. Florian Zeller's The Truth, in the English translation by Christopher Hampton, premiered at The Chocolate Factory, London, in association with Theatre Royal Bath. It follows the phenomenal success of The Father (Theatre Royal Bath, Tricycle, London and West End) and The Mother (Theatre Royal Bath, Tricycle, London), both by Florian Zeller and translated by Christopher Hampton.

Genres: Plays, Fiction, France, French Literature

109 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Florian Zeller is a French novelist and playwright. His work has been translated into a dozen languages, including English. He won the Prix Interallié in 2004 for his novel "Fascination of Evil" ("La Fascination du Pire").

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's no coincidence that this play about marital infidelity begins with an epigram from Pinter's 'Betrayal', still the 'ne plus ultra' in the genre. But this is a very witty and theatrically viable second place finisher, in a fine translation by Hampton. My only complaint is that Zeller relies way too heavily on the device of having his characters repeat another character's preceding line of dialogue as a question (Alice: 'I don't see why not'. Michel: 'You don't see why not?'), or even worse, has them constantly asking 'What?' as if they are all deaf, for no reason.

[Mehrdad · Rating 1 out of 5]

یک نمایشنامه که سرتاسر کلیشه‌ای از خیانت رو تصویر می‌کرد. داستان روندی خطی و یکنواخت داشت و افشاگری های نویسنده هم هیجان خاصی ایجاد نمی‌کرد.
البته، ایده جالب بود که گاهی افراد دروغ رو به حقیقت ترجیح میدن..ولی خب همین..چیز بیشتری نداشت...

[Pineapple Pizza · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first playwright ever read. I enjoyed it very much and I was surprised by the number of plot twists. Although it felt a bit repetitive in the dialogues (you know, 'what?' and repeating the previous line) it was a good text and very enjoyable.

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The truth hurts sometimes

[Nazanin Banaei · Rating 3 out of 5]

مرگ خیلی زودتر از مرگ جسمی صورت می‌گیره، بعد از اون ملاقات اینو با خودم گفتم. دوستات رو ببینی که قبل از اینکه واقعن بمیرند، مردند. صداشون رو میشناسی، چهره‌شون، حرف زدنشون، ولی از درون، دیگه اون آدم قبلی نیستند. پس در زندگی لحظه‌ای هست که به شدت تنها میشیم. بدون دوست.
چرا اینو میگی؟
همینجوری. چون تو دوستمی. بهترین دوستم.

[Flora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so stupid and it's aware of it. It feels very satirical in its writing as it spends it's entire run time beating Michel over the head in various ways.

This is a different type of Zeller to the type I am used to reading in the other plays of his that I have read (The Mother, Father, Son, and The Height Of The Storm). This is a Zeller who still likes to confuse you, but entertains you, rather than depressing you.

Very enjoyable read that I got done in the space of 2 nights. A nice one as I try yet again to reintroduce myself to reading actual books.

[Andreea Ursu-Listeveanu]

As aflat de piesa asta de la cineva care a vazut spectacolul la teatru. Am fost imediat curioasa pentru ca imi place sa citesc teatru. Imi place si sa il vad, dar cand il citesc il rumeg mai bine.

Probabil ca spectacol e mai... spectaculos, insa din pacate nu am gasit nimic original sau nemaiauzit/citit/vazut citind-o, deci am ramas usor dezamagita. Nici reactiile lui Michel nu imi sunt necunscute, nici faptul ca activitatea principala a francezilor e sa aiba legaturi extraconjugale, nici twisturile de pe drum.

[Asaria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kraj: Francja


W zasadzie są to impresje na temat sztuki w reżyserii Wojciecha Malajkata niż sztuki Zellera. Nie potrafię powiedzieć na ile ta adaptacja jest wierna sztuce.

Akcja dzieje się w czasach współczesnych. Widz ma (nie)przyjemność obserwować perypetie pewnej czystej kanalii, losy jego małżeństwa oraz małżeństwa jego kochanki. Tak w wielkim skrócie.

Świetna obsada, sztuka zdecydowanie bawi, ale mnie ta tematyka niezbyt pociąga. Podkreślam raz jeszcze, historia oraz humor są niezłe, jednak po prostu nie w moim guście. Bywa :)

[Nomad nimrod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Not bad at all.

[Zonghui Zhao · Rating 4 out of 5]

human-beings are all of the same level of sophistication and contradiction

[Fawad Khan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt this was a much simpler version of Harold Pinter's brilliant play BETRAYAL. IT was a simple fun read though. No need to read it again.

[Omar Tovar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intelligent
Funny
Turns of screws
Excelent translation
Provocative

[Timo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,59

[VICKY · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a very interesting play. I couldn’t distinguish the truths from the lies at the end. I’m still wondering if it’s a sin or a virtue to tell the truth of an affair and alleviate self guilty.

[Talla T · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5⭐️