By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 28 September, runs through 16 November 2024 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (with a 20-minute interval) Update: Transfers to Harold Pinter Theatre 26 April through 2 August 2025

Golden Globe, Emmy and Tony award winner John Lithgow plays author Roald Dahl here under fire for an antisemetic article he had written on the eve of the launch of his 1983 book The Witches.

• Read on for reasons including how it’s the central performance of Lithgow’s which will both shock and enthral you

Lithgow, who has also been nominated for Oscars, Grammys and a BAFTA, gives 1 of the 3 greatest theatrical performances here that our companion has seen and we can only concur what a tour de force it really is.

Director Nicholas Hytner (Guys And Dolls, Bridge Theatre) sets the action in 1 room at the Dahl family’s home as the author is visited by his publisher’s representatives who urge him to make a public apology or else risk his reputation.

Particularly good is Romala Garai (Measure For Measure, Young Vic) as American and Jewish sales director Jessie Stone who is unafraid to challenge the author about his ‘incendiary’ ideas which blame a race of people for the actions of their army.

Olivier Award winner Elliot Levey (Cabaret, Kit Kat Club) is British publisher Tom Maschler who is also Jewish but seemingly more interested in an upcoming tennis match than bringing pressure to bear on the author.

Author Mark Rosenblatt also ratchets up the tension with Dahl off his stride thanks to the renovation at his home implemented by his fiancee Liccy, an always interesting Rachael Stirling (Scandaltown, Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith), a back problem and a financial grudge against his illustrator.

Lithgow is on fire as the author who is hugely intelligent and charming yet refusing to be undone by his self-confessed antisemetism.

It’s an argument that couldn’t be more prescient as the news headlines are dominated by Israel’s response to the 7 October 2023 attacks against it.

Tickets for this run are limited and we can’t help but think it’s a story which has much to say about the world within which we are currently living and we would not be at all surprised if it didn’t announce a West End transfer and soon to a bigger venue.

It’s also lifted by a strong supporting cast but it’s the central performance of Lithgow’s which will both shock and enthral you.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Royal Court Theatre Tickets
• Have you seen a John Lithgow show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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