John Lithgow to play Roald Dahl in London

John Lithgow will star as Roald Dahl in a play about the writer's antisemitism.

Giant, written by Mark Rosenblatr and directed by Nicholas Hytner, is set in 1983, shortly before the publication of Dahl’s novel The Witches, as he comes under fire for his antisemitic views expressed in the media. In an interview with the New Statesman that year, Dahl said: “There is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity … Even a stinker like Hitler didn’t just pick on them for no reason.” 

Sep. 20 - Nov. 16

lilpunkin said: "Sounds interesting, and I love John Lithgow a lot, but I wish it wasn’t at the Court. The theatre with the worst reputation and history for antisemitism doing a play about a known antisemite could go badly wrong.

On the other hand, they have just had a change in leadership and while a lot of things about the current scandal are worrying, everyone I know says David is one of the genuine good guys. I hope that is the case and that the Court can start afresh."

That is exactly why the Royal Court is doing it. More “Theater of Reparations”.

lilpunkin said: "sinister teashop said: "lilpunkin said: "Sounds interesting, and I love John Lithgow a lot, but I wish it wasn’t at the Court. The theatre with the worst reputation and history for antisemitism doing a play about a known antisemite could go badly wrong.

On the other hand, they have just had a change in leadership and while a lot of things about the current scandal are worrying, everyone I know says David is one of the genuine good guys. I hope that is the case and that the Court can start afresh."

That is exactly why the Royal Court is doing it. More “Theater of Reparations”."



Hmm, is that based on anything, or just an assumption?



I’m a Royal Court playwright and one of the artists invited to the Court during the antisemitism scandal, and two of my close friends are the playwrights who got caught up in the current (not related to racism) scandal. Admittedly I don’t know David well but until last November and the eruption of the current issue I was quite closely involved in all of this, and while I’m sure David is very aware of the tarnished legacy he’s inheriting, I’m not sure programming a play about an antisemite is “theatre of reparations”, especially when there’s an ongoing issue with lack of accountability and transparency."

 

lilpunkin said: "sinister teashop said: "lilpunkin said: "Sounds interesting, and I love John Lithgow a lot, but I wish it wasn’t at the Court. The theatre with the worst reputation and history for antisemitism doing a play about a known antisemite could go badly wrong.

On the other hand, they have just had a change in leadership and while a lot of things about the current scandal are worrying, everyone I know says David is one of the genuine good guys. I hope that is the case and that the Court can start afresh."

That is exactly why the Royal Court is doing it. More “Theater of Reparations”."



Hmm, is that based on anything, or just an assumption?



I’m a Royal Court playwright and one of the artists invited to the Court during the antisemitism scandal, and two of my close friends are the playwrights who got caught up in the current (not related to racism) scandal. Admittedly I don’t know David well but until last November and the eruption of the current issue I was quite closely involved in all of this, and while I’m sure David is very aware of the tarnished legacy he’s inheriting, I’m not sure programming a play about an antisemite is “theatre of reparations”, especially when there’s an ongoing issue with lack of accountability and transparency."

I’m not a Royal Court playwright and don’t know David.

I suppose the reparations are for the recent scandal but also for the Royal Court’s long history of disputes over anti-Semitism. 
 

The problem is that the left tradition of the house is a tough knot to unravel dating back to the Balfour decision. It’s the same knot that destroyed the Corbyn Labour Party. The problem is a lot of anti-Semitic tropes are bound together with genuine opposition to zionism. I am not sure if a play about Roald Dahl’s antisemitism will do anything to unravel that problematic knot… which needs attention now more than ever.

Updated On: 3/4/24 at 09:12 AM

The play was originally conceived for the Bridge

And he will most probably win a Tony for his extraordinary performance.