TEHRAN- Arghavan Theater in Tehran will host the play “The Lie” written by the French novelist and playwright Florian Zeller next week.

Mohamad Javad Asefi has directed the 70-minute play and performs in it along with Hannaneh Nazari, Amir Khaleghifar, and Aida Moradi. The play will start its performance on May 26.

In “The Lie,” a companion piece to his earlier play “The Truth,” Michel and Laurence are coming for dinner. But Alice spotted Michel with another woman that very afternoon, leaving her with a dilemma. Her husband Paul believes it is better to behave as if nothing has happened; Alice is far from sure. An argument ensues and as their own relationship is held up to scrutiny, the question as to who is being protected and why grows ever more difficult to answer.

“The Lie” received its English language world premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London, in September 2017.

Zeller, 44, is a French novelist, playwright, theater director, screenwriter, and film director. He has written over a dozen plays, that have been staged worldwide and have made him one of the most celebrated contemporary playwrights.

His work has been translated into a dozen languages, including English and Persian. He won the Prix Interallié in 2004 for his novel “Fascination of Evil”.

His black comedy “The Father” is one of the outstanding hits of recent years, playing in London's West End to ecstatic five-star reviews and winning several awards and nominations in Paris, London, and New York. Zeller wrote and directed his first film, 2020's “The Father,” based on his play of the same name, starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman. The film received more than 200 nominations and awards, all over the world, including two Oscars at the 93rd Academy Awards. Since then, it has been cited as one of the best films of the 2020s and the 21st century.

In his plays, Zeller tackles the theme of lies and truth. Most often he tries to resolve the eternal dilemma within one’s family circle that is believed to be most open and receptive in embracing the truth. However, it often transpires that one’s family tends to be subjected to lies and deception. In today’s world, people are inundated by fake news spread deliberately by social networks allowing individuals to achieve political goals and gain social influence. The truth is becoming increasingly relative, not only in the metaphysical, Rashomon-like sense, but objectively too: facts are being falsified, and lies are being circulated.

Zeller’s plays have always been regarded by Iranian directors. Celebrated theater director Arvand Dashtaray staged Zeller’s acclaimed psychological drama “The Father” in 2022 with renowned actors including Reza Kainian, Leili Rashidi, Saeid Changizian, Sogol Khaliq, Behzad Karimi, Najva Sahebazzamani and Dutch actress Marene van Holk who is Dashtaray’s wife.

Starring Pantea Bahram and Pejman Jamshidi, Zeller’s play “The Mother” was also performed at Tehran’s Iranshahr Theater Complex in 2019.

“The Lie” will remain on stage until June 7 at the Arghavan Theater, located at Ziba Dead-end, Neauphle-le-Château St., Hafez Ave.

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