When John Lithgow captured the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play this week for his depiction of Roald Dahl in Giant, Mark Rosenblatt's drama exploring the writer's troubling aspects, he seized the chance to speak thoughtfully about antisemitism.

"Antisemitism, cruelty of all kinds, hatred of the other - these are things that we are confronting these days, directly and personally," Lithgow told reporters following his victory. "That is what makes Giant so vital and such a success."

During his acceptance speech at Radio City Music Hall in New York, Lithgow described Giant as an "extraordinary play" brought to life by "people full of love and kindness."

"Yet it is a play about cruelty in a cruel age. And it is an extraordinarily important play of this moment," the award-winning actor noted.

The production, directed by Nicholas Hytner, unfolds in 1983 as the creator of cherished children's books such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach prepared to release The Witches.

Concurrently, Dahl encountered demands from his publishers to express regret for remarks he made in a critique of God Cried, a picture book focused on the first Lebanon War.

In that critique, Dahl stated, "Never before in the history of man has a race of people switched so rapidly from much-pitied victims to barbarous murderers."

He further claimed that coverage of IDF actions in the conflict was suppressed because "they are primarily Jewish-owned."

In a New Statesman interview that same year, Dahl voiced even stronger antisemitic views, going so far as to fault Jews for the Holocaust.

"There is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity. I mean, there is always a reason why anti-anything crops up anywhere; even a stinker like Hitler did not just pick on them for no reason," he remarked.

Giant Resonates Amid Rising Antisemitism Concerns

Giant examines efforts by several of Dahl's associates, including Jewish literary figures, to persuade him to withdraw these provocative statements.

The play earned acclaim for capturing the contrast between Dahl's talent and appeal on one side and his animosity and harshness on the other.

The events Giant portrays hold particular weight amid growing global antisemitism and debates distinguishing Israel criticism from anti-Jewish sentiment.

Frank Scheck in New York Stage Review termed the play "disturbingly topical," noting that Lithgow's Dahl begins as "playful, charming, and kindly" yet proves "deeply and revoltingly antisemitic."

Yair Rosenberg in The Atlantic observed that Giant avoids reducing Dahl to a stereotype and instead reveals an author who "excels at many things, including antisemitism."

Rosenberg added that Lithgow's Dahl comes across as "incisive, avuncular, irascible, acerbic, and always entertaining," while revealing "casual misogyny, narcissism, and antisemitism."

Lithgow received praise for revealing that nuance. Ahead of the Tony Awards, he explained his interest in Dahl's contradictions, including what he termed the writer's "witting and unwitting cruelty."

Lithgow's Tony victory follows Giant's success in London, where it secured the Olivier Award for Best New Play along with Best Actor honors for him.

At 80, he stands as the oldest male actor to earn a competitive Tony Award for acting. He had previously won two Tony Awards, for The Changing Room in 1973 and Sweet Smell of Success in 2002.

In his acceptance speech, Lithgow reflected on those "two Tony bookends," noting many "ecstatic moments" onstage across the years, yet calling this one among the finest.

Lithgow also garnered two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor for The World According to Garp and Terms of Endearment.

Dahl marks another layered historical figure in his repertoire. Lithgow has portrayed Winston Churchill in the series The Crown, Roger Ailes in Bombshell, and Alfred Kinsey in Kinsey.

The Broadway run of Giant continues through June 28.