When Florian Zeller wrote “The Truth” in 2011, the playwright surprised his audience. With this very classic vaudeville, Zeller then embraces the codes of comedy to better lead him towards a reflection on lies. Because if the hero of his play is a fierce liar, who cheats on his wife with the wife of his best friend, he is also a man caught in his own trap. And locked in its secret. Zeller handles twists and turns and funny situations, like Labiche or Feydeau did in their time.
Fourteen years later, Pascal Legros, the talkative director of the Édouard-VII theater, waited until Stéphane De Groodt was free to entrust him with the costume of Pierre Arditi. Surrounded by Sylvie Testud, Clotilde Courau and Stéphane Facco, De Groodt promises not to follow in the footsteps of his elder. This new casting intends to offer its own definition of this “Truth” which is not always good to say…
Paris Match. What do you think “The Truth” says?
Sylvie Testud. This piece shows that each couple has their own secret garden. And it is from there that trust can be established. In the adultery that the characters experience, we see clearly that we are deceiving ourselves above all. And then we lie to each other. Deception, ultimately, is taking yourself for someone else, changing your universe, your relationship with others.
Is any truth good to tell?
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No, in this play, the moral is that when you lie, you risk losing control over anything. We ourselves become hostage to what we have produced. And it’s very difficult to get out of it. But Florian Zeller writes very well. Each character has a piece of the puzzle, it is up to us, the actors, to piece it together on stage.
Is it complicated to play?
It’s a lot of work. Because there are many suggestions, few things that are affirmed. So it’s a complicated score. But that’s why we repeat so much. Even though I still feel like I’ll never be ready. [Elle rit.]
Does the couple in the play, Vincent and Sophie, need infidelity?
-I don’t know if you can say that in such a general way. They fell easy, in this famous phrase, “the best way to manage temptation is to give in to it”. Their mistake is to think that it will not have an impact…
So comedy or study of manners?
Both ! Everyone is hurt when we lie, even if we have the impression that we understand the reasons and respect the other. But when the truth finally comes out, we have the impression of disrespect, of disenchantment and the consequences are much more serious…
In the end, can we lie usefully?
We may need to lie. But I don’t know if it’s necessary… And it’s a tool which, once used, weighs very heavy. You have to have the shoulders to carry it. Are we really ready to reshuffle the cards of our life for a lie?
Are you afraid of theater fatigue?
Yes ! Yes ! Yes ! So you have to put yourself in danger as soon as you start to sag. I tend to be a bit like that, so I take risks…
“The Truth”, currently at the Édouard VII theater
© (Paris 9th)
