Matthew Perry's debut play The End Of Longing has been savaged by critics following the opening night on Thursday.

The former Friends star appears in the play he wrote, which debuted at London's Playhouse Theatre.

The play, about the lives of four troubled souls hoping to find love and contentment, was badly received by a majority of critics.

Tough response: Matthew Perry as Jack and Lloyd Owen as Joseph in The End Of Longing at London's Playhouse Theatre

The Telegraph's Dominic Cavendish was particularly scathing, giving the production two out of five stars: 'There’s little disguising the fact that it is essentially a dud...

'It all feels like a curious waste of time, money and effort - and I’m sure I won’t be the only one watching this rickety star vehicle who’s left longing for the end.'

Some critics noted how Perry, who drew on his past addictions to play an alcoholic called Jack, gave his character the best lines in the show.

Also giving two stars was The Independent's Holly Williams: 'It is a woeful attempt at a dark-but-redemptive romcom, drawing on Perry’s own experiences of addiction...

'Perry’s gendered clichés are as stale as a drunk’s morning breath.'

Chemistry? Matthew's character Jack falls for a high-class hooker Stephanie (Jennifer Mudge)

However, she did praise the 'honesty' in his performance: 'When Jack turns bitter and pitiful, full of fearful self-loathing as he contemplates life without booze, there’s a real charge to Perry’s performance. That sounds salacious, like getting off on troubled celebrity, but it’s a credit to his honesty.'

Meanwhile, The Guardian's Michael Billington, also giving 2 stars, wrote: 'It feels more like an extended sitcom in which there is little going on behind the lines.

'Perry, with his permanent stubble and greying hair, is certainly a beguiling presence and generously gives his character most of the play’s best lines.'

The Daily Mail's Quentin Letts had a more lukewarm response to the play, giving it three out of five stars.

He said: 'It is disarmingly easy to watch and may even elicit some gooey coos towards the end.'

TV icon: Despite his beloved status with Friends fans, Matthew's script hasn't quite wowed the critics

The Stage's Mark Shenton also had mixed feelings: 'Much of this feels superficial, the emotions phoney and barely earned, with Perry writing in short, choppy scenes interspersed with direct address, a series of monologues in which the characters express their thoughts to the audience.'

Shenton praised the cast for making the play 'a more watchable experience than the material really deserves'.