John Lithgow delivers a tour-de-force performance as Roald Dahl in Mark Rosenblatt's provocative new play Giant, now at Manhattan's Music Box Theater. The production examines the beloved children's author's darker side, with Lithgow portraying Dahl as someone who almost gleefully exposes his own bigotry. Directed with unflinching honesty, the play forces audiences to confront the uncomfortable gap between Dahl's cherished literary legacy and his documented prejudices.

The Music Box Theater production, reviewed by Helen Shaw, doesn't shy away from Dahl's controversial personal views. Lithgow's transformation into the author captures both the charm that made Dahl's stories beloved by millions and the monstrous qualities that have only recently come under scrutiny. The play's title Giant serves as a metaphor for the outsized impact of Dahl's prejudices, suggesting that his bigotry looms as large in his legacy as his literary achievements.

This theatrical exploration arrives at a time when cultural institutions are reckoning with the complex legacies of celebrated figures. By casting Lithgow, a respected actor known for both his versatility and moral authority, the production adds weight to its examination of how we separate art from artist. The play doesn't offer easy answers but instead presents a nuanced portrait of genius and human fallibility.