Christopher Hampton has adapted French playwright Florian Zeller’s The Lie for its English-language world premiere at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory.
In addition to the previous casting of Samantha Bond in the lead, the production will feature James Dreyfus, Tony Gardner, and Alexandra Giblreath.
The play tells the story of Alice (Bond), who discovers her best friend’s husband out with another woman and must decide whether to tell her friend or to lie.
A playwright and novelist, Zeller made his Broadway debut with The Father at Manhattan Theatre Club, starring Frank Langella, who won a Tony for his performance. He has also written The Mother and The Truth—which earned an Olivier nomination for Best New Comedy—all adapted to English by Hampton.
Hampton is a playwright and a Tony Award winner. His Les Liaisons Dangereuses earned him a Tony nomination in 1987. In 1995, he took home two Tonys (Best Score and Best Book of a Musical) for Sunset Boulevard, for which he wrote the book and lyrics. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay adaptation of Liaisons, known to moviegoers as Dangerous Liaisons.
Bond is most well known for playing Lady Rosamund on television’s Downton Abbey, but boasts a résumé of London theatre credits including Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy, Amy’s View—for which she earned a Tony nomination for its Broadway transfer, and more.
The Lie begins performances September 14 at the Menier Chocolate Factory and continues through November 18.
For tickets and information visit MenierChocolateFactory.com.
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