Overarching critique of Roald Dahl production: Whilst the performance is commendable, it falls short of excellence in certain aspects.
Scathing Review: ★★★★ - Roald Dahl Unmasked
Roald Dahl, the man behind our beloved children's books, was a charismatic character, but scratch the surface, and you'd find a poisonous mind. He was an anti-Semite, spouting hate in a 1983 New Statesman article. He said, "There's a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity, maybe it's a kind of lack of generosity towards non-Jews."
Mark Rosenblatt's play, Giant, imagines Dahl toward the end of his life. It paints a picture of a man more concerned with selling books than apologizing for his vile opinions. His private chef delivers decadent desserts, while publishers Tom Maschler and Jessica Stone attempt, in vain, to coax Dahl into an apology.
Giant - An Intimate Exposé
The stage is set for a riveting night at the theatre. Performances are stellar, especially John Lithgow, who delivers Dahl's racism with chilling ease. Elliot Levey's Maschler is a stressed mess, and Tessa Bonham's Hallie provides comic relief while keeping Dahl grounded.
Rachael Stirling's Felicity Crossland, later Dahl's wife, is the most intriguing character. She's the only one left to deal with Dahl's mess after everyone else departs, capturing Crossland's dilemma perfectly - she challenges Dahl but is blinded by love.
Check out: Piers Morgan on the Editing of Roald Dahl Books**
Director Nicholas Hytner successfully manages to balance the play's darkness with energy. Dahl's home, though rotting, is filled with life and warmth. The message is clear: evil happens in plain sight. However, the use of tinned birdsong feels excessive and distracting.
Giant - A Revealing Portrayal
Despite its occasional meandering, Giant offers a compelling character study. Dahl wasn't the harmless children's author we thought he was. Rosenblatt has crafted a character that, despite his repugnant beliefs, feels real and unsettlingly contradictory.
The play runs at the Harold Pinter Theatre until 2 August. For more, don't miss: To Olivia - A Cozy Biopic of Roald Dahl.
- The desserts served to Roald Dahl, despite his repugnant bigotry, were decadent and filled with life, just like his rotting home in the play Giant.
- The conundrum of Felicity Crossland, Rachael Stirling's character in Giant, lies in her challenging Dahl's views despite her blind love for him, creating a dahl of uncertainty.
- The play Giant unveils the entertainment industry's uncomfortable interval during the height of Roald Dahl's career, where his bigotry was a prevalent yet unspoken conundrum.
