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In Broadway’s ‘Giant,’ Roald Dahl is a warped messenger for a vital debate about Israel
The play explores the 1982 antisemitic book review by Roald Dahl and the efforts by his Jewish publishers to secure an apology amid growing contemporary relevance.
- Giant, the Broadway play, opened on March 23 after a much-hailed West End run, staging Roald Dahl's 1982 controversy in Mark Rosenblatt's drama.
- The controversy stems from Dahl's 1982 review in Literary Review, where he criticized Israel's 1982 Lebanon war and alleged U.S. policy was controlled by 'powerful American Jewish bankers'.
- John Lithgow anchors the production with a tour‑de‑force portrayal that uses physical presence and verbal force to embody Dahl, while Aya Cash debuts as Jessie Stone, a New York publishing executive.
- Publishers pressed Dahl to retract and apologize amid threats that led to security at his Buckinghamshire estate, while Dahl's family issued a 2020 apology and audiences reacted with an audible hush to 1982 references.
- Given recent events, the play's questions about authorship and Jewish solidarity feel more urgent as Dahl's work continues to be adapted by Netflix and top directors, amplifying its relevance.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Roald Dahl’s Kanye West Moment
“And are you Jewish?”That’s the first, short, tightening of the screw in a new Broadway play about children’s author Roald Dahl, called Giant. The show, recently brought over from London, takes place in 1983, in the makeshift dining room at Gipsy House, Dahl’s countryside estate.Dahl—played by John Lithgow, is about to publish his novel, The Witches. He’s already had huge hits in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, James and the Giant Pe…
John Lithgow Celebrates ‘Giant’ Opening Night on Broadway Amid Rave Reviews for His Performance as Roald Dahl | Just Jared: Celebrity News and Gossip
John Lithgow should probably make some room to add another award to his collection as it appears he’s going to be a Tony Award frontrunner thanks to his performance in Giant. The acclaimed actor is playing Roald Dahl in the new play, which just arrived on Broadway after an Oliver Award-winning run in London’s West End. Lithgow walked the red carpet alongside co-stars Aya Cash, Rachael Stirling, Elliot Levey, Stella Everett, and David Manis at th…
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