Come lie with me

The rise and fall of controversial author Jerzy Kosinski rocked the American literary world in the 1970s. The flamboyant Polish Jew was the toast of New York society and a chat show fixture after his 'autobiographical fiction' about the Holocaust came out - until he was accused of fabricating the tale and using ghost writers. He never recovered from the accusations and eventually committed suicide.

As writer Davey Holmes points out, it is appropriate that in portraying Jerzy he should construct another fiction around him: the main points of Kosinski's life story are in place but the relationships depicted are all imagined. And so we watch as a swaggering, sex-club-frequenting fictional Jerzy Lesnewski (acted with panache by George Layton) plays fast and loose with the truth and then gradually disintegrates as people start to express their doubts. Holmes seems keen to point out the selfishness of those around Jerzy - they are willing to be duped if it satisfies the need, whether sexual, romantic or monetary, within them.

The play also raises (unanswerable) questions about truth - what is it and who has a right to it? - which could fire some heated post-theatre debates. The trouble with More Lies, though, is how long it labours these points: some judicious editing would stop the play practically crawling to its conclusion.

More Lies About Jerzy is showing until Nov 24, New End Theatre, 27 New End NW3, Tue to Sat 7.30pm, Sat and Sun mats 3.30pm, £16, £12 concs. Tel: 020 7794 0022.

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