GIANT Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/10/26 at 12:00am

The winner of the 2025 Olivier Award for best new play, Giant — by Mark Rosenblatt — starts up tomorrow (March 11) at the Music Box Theatre. The London import, which follows the children’s book author Roald Dahl at a turbulent point in his career, stars the 2-time Tony winner John Lithgow as Dahl, alongside Aya Cash, Elliot Levey, Rachael Stirling, Stella Everett, and David Manis. Giant officially opens on March 23 and runs in New York until June 28; Nicholas Hytner directs.

“It’s the summer of 1983, The Witches is about to hit shelves, and Roald Dahl is making last-minute edits. But the outcry at his recent, explicitly antisemitic article won’t die down. Across a single afternoon at his family home, and rocked by an unexpectedly explosive confrontation, Dahl is forced to choose: make a public apology or risk his name and reputation.”

Who here is planning a trip to the Dahl house?

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/10/26 at 9:28pm

Just got out of the dress rehearsal. I’ll keep it brief.

The pacing was tight, the writing was strong, and Lithgow is absolutely towering and terrifying, even with great sparring partners on stage.

Even with cursory knowledge of the story, I was gripped about 10 minutes in and it didn’t let go at all.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/10/26 at 9:46pm

The show I am most looking forward to this season!

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 3/10/26 at 10:15pm

I was also at the dress tonight and I echo the previous post. Lithgow commands the stage with a towering performance. I couldn’t take my eye off him. One thing I hope they fix before paying patrons arrive is I was in the mezz and it was very hard to hear a lot of the dialogue, especially in Act One. Other people around me said the same during intermission.

[seeseveryshow2]

Posted: 3/10/26 at 11:11pm

It was also difficult to hear the dialogue from the 6th row at the Pinter in London.

Have they redesigned the set from London? Or does it still have that plastic construction zone curtain backdrop?

I admit to being in the minority on this play. I did not like any of the characters, found each one annoying in his/her own way. 

The play (in London) did not live up to my expectations. 
 💤 

 

 

[the.hard.part]

Posted: 3/10/26 at 11:15pm

Would far orchestra sides be extremely partial view or is the relatively centrally staged? Thanks!

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/10/26 at 11:25pm

To answer the queries:

1) I also had some issues hearing in rear orchestra, but they seemed to resolve partway through Act 1. I’m not sure if it’s the actors or the sound design, but either way, I and others around me had the same feelings.

2) Yes, they still have the plastic backdrop curtain.

3) This show is almost exclusively performed in and around a kitchen table in the center of the stage (think Purlie Victorious). I can’t imagine going for an extreme side seat being any form of impediment unless you are going for closer toward the front, at which point your neck is gonna get a workout.

Oddly enough, I’m going to the first official preview tomorrow as well since I checked my email at intermission and found out I won the lottery and claimed the tickets just under the gun. Good thing I enjoyed the play 😂 

 

[Azbroadway16]

Posted: 3/10/26 at 11:55pm

Is the stage high? I feel it fluctuates at Music Box Theater. For Art I feel it was lower than it was for Suffs. Looking at seats for Left Orchestra Row C seat 2. Just want to make sure the stage isn’t too high.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/11/26 at 12:20am

Giant MERCH

Updated On: 3/11/26 at 12:20 AM

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 3/11/26 at 12:48am

CoffeeBreak said: "GiantMERCH"

Eh, looks pretty average sized to me...

Sorry, I'll see myself out. 🙃