“The universally praised production of Christopher Hampton’s translation of Florian Zeller’s French hit returns, triumphantly, to the Theatre Royal, this time in the main house. I reviewed this, my favourite play of 2014, on its English premiere at the Ustinov and I’m pleased to say nothing has happened in the interim to alter my initial judgement. . . [Kenneth Cranham’s] performance has found new facets. Experiencing it is like watching a mirror shatter in slow motion as the shards separate, briefly reflecting some piece of past reality. . . ”

The Bath audience greeted Suchet’s entrance with warm applause. By the end they clapped long enough for repeated sweeps to the front of the stage with the entire cast and a final triumphant solo pose and flourish. A long run starting in London later this month at the Vaudeville Theatre looks likely.