Giant

Review by Sam

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Inspired by real events, Mark Rosenblatt’s exceptional debut play blends fact with fiction as he dramatises a scandalous moment in the life of acclaimed children’s author Roald Dahl.

Explored through sophisticated dark humour and a highly pressurised script, Giant revolves around an explosive confrontation between Dahl and his Jewish publishers, following a passionate outcry against Israel which they fear will deem him as antisemitic and affect his upcoming book, The Witches. The play challenges the differences between plain opinion and dangerous rhetoric, with this semi-imagined narrative vividly brought into realism. The script is expertly written, with Rosenblatt’s debut foray into writing building to a masterful crescendo. The final moments of Act 1 quite literally had me on the edge of my seat as this powerful cast deliver passionate performances which excel an already elevated text.

Leading the piece is John Lithgow, giving a commanding central performance as he brings the snarkily written character of Dahl to life. Lithgow shows both the sharp and witty sides of Dahl, in a performance that demonstrates why he is one of the greatest actors working today. He builds aggression masterfully, using the text like putty in his hands, and acts through conversations in such a way that effortlessly blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Alongside him is a supporting cast who are equally enthralling and perfectly pitted in a linguistic battle against Lithgow. Elliot Levey is astounding, but it is
Romola Garai who takes dual command of the drama, challenging Dahl’s outrageous statements with unequivocal vocal prowess in defence of Judaism.

Giant is an extremely challenging and fearless piece of theatre which is deeply relevant to the current political landscape. Rosenblatt’s drama shows immense bravery in tackling such a critical issue head-on in a way which other writers have tiptoed around. The dense script is spectacularly realised through extraordinary performances, led by a dominating realisation from Lithgow