What happens to a relationship when a spouse cheats on their partner? What if a wife has an affair with her husband's best friend? How does that affect the marriage and the friendship?

These are questions explored in Harold Pinter's "Betrayal," which is currently running at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. This version, directed by Susan V. Booth, brings a lot of star power to the stage. Chicago native Ian Barford stars as husband Robert, Hellen Hunt is his wife Emma, and Robert Sean Leonard stars as Robert's best friend and Emma's lover Jerry.

Barford is a Tony nominee, Leonard is a Tony winner, and Hunt holds Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe awards. Fans of movies and television will know Hunt from her roles in "Twister," "As Good As It Gets," and "Mad About You," while Leonard is most remembered as the title character's best friend in TV's "House" and as the conflicted student in "Dead Poets Society."

The twist in this play is that the story is told in reverse chronological order. The opening scene takes place two years after the end of the affair, as the former lovers meet with Emma revealing that her marriage is over. As we move backward in time, we learn details of the affair - how it ended, how it progressed, what and when Robert knew, and how it began. Each scene reveals details of events mentioned earlier in the play but later in the timeline. The past often reveals misrepresentations or misremembered events.

The dialog and actions are more realistic than most plays, reflecting the awkwardness with which the characters find themselves. Sentences are sometimes left incomplete, and pauses are occasionally uncomfortable. When Emma reaches out her hand to Jerry in the opening scene, he hesitates before pulling away. Leonard / Jerry conveys his guilt over the situation perfectly. He enjoyed the seven-year triste, but now he feels enormous guilt for betraying his best friend. In contrast, Barford / Robert has come to terms with events and is willing to continue the friendship unaltered, possibly because he was unfaithful to Emma during their marriage.

Pinter based "Betrayal" on an extramarital affair of his own and wrote an honest account of the conflicted emotions of all those an affair touches. Hunt, Leonard, and Barford brought those feelings to life.

While not perfect, this short play effectively transferred emotions to the audience.