Last year, John Lithgow starred as Roald Dahl in Mark Rosenblatt’s debut play to critical acclaim.
Alongside Elliot Levey’s Best Supporting Actor gong, both won Olivier awards for the production that has since transferred to the West End’s Harold Pinter Theatre, where it’s running for the next three months.
The new Dumbledore actor plays the children’s author in the aftermath of backlash to a piece he wrote about the 1982 Lebanon War that was deemed anti-Semitic.
Living with his fiancée Liccy (Rachael Stirling) in a house under renovation, Dahl undergoes his own as his Jewish publisher Tom Maschler (Elliot Levy) supports his friend through the PR crisis
Meanwhile, visiting American Jewish sales executive Jessie Stone goes from starstruck fan to furious Israel apologist in a fantastic performance.
The title Giant dares to ask how much of a BFG the towering, powerful Dahl is really and how much of a Goliath he is in need of taking down. Lithgow is sensational in the complex and charming lead role, especially impressive for a man turning 80 this year.
The witty, engaging (and at times offensive) dialogue causes the audience to belly laugh and gasp as the text inevitably dives into the ever-relevant debate around Israel-Palestine, even though it was written prior to the ongoing conflict. Additionally, cancel culture comes to mind as the script asks how one relates to the beloved work of an author if one deems their character beyond the pale.
The nuance of ideas across this beautifully acted piece will have you internally wrestling long after the show ends. It may go on a tad too long, but this is a rich and challenging piece of new theatre to be sought out before Lithgow puts on his wizard beard.
Giant is playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre until August 2 and tickets can be purchased here.
