Best Of: John Lithgow / Sondheim’s tumultuous life
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “Best Of: John Lithgow / Sondheim’s tumultuous life” inside PodZeus.
In this episode of Fresh Air Weekend, host Dave Davies speaks with actor John Lithgow about his current role in the Broadway play Giant, where he portrays Roald Dahl during a 1983 controversy sparked by Dahl’s anti-Semitic remarks in a book review about the Lebanon-Israel conflict. Lithgow reflects on the complexity of portraying a beloved author with a deeply troubling legacy, exploring Dahl’s traumatic life and the psychological roots of his cruelty. The conversation delves into the play’s relevance to contemporary debates over Israel and Gaza, and Lithgow shares his meticulous preparation, including using apple balls and custom silicone inserts to mimic Churchill’s voice for The Crown. Later, Terry Gross interviews Daniel Okrent, author of Stephen Sondheim: Art Isn't Easy, about the composer’s turbulent life, his fraught relationship with his mother, and how personal pain fueled his revolutionary musicals. Okrent reveals new insights from Sondheim’s letters and interviews, including the autobiographical undercurrents in Sweeney Todd and the emotional significance of songs like 'Someone in a Tree.' The episode underscores how art emerges from inner turmoil, and how both Dahl and Sondheim grappled with identity, revenge, and the burden of genius.
Portraying complex figures like Roald Dahl requires empathy for their trauma, not just condemnation of their actions.
Artistic genius often emerges from personal pain, isolation, and emotional repression.
Sondheim used alcohol and drugs as tools to access suppressed emotions, which he then channeled into his music.
The line between criticism of policy and anti-Semitism is often blurred—and deeply dangerous.
Sondheim’s work, especially Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures, reflects his lifelong struggle as an outsider seeking belonging.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction to the Episode: Lithgow and Sondheim
Host Dave Davies introduces the episode featuring actor John Lithgow and author Daniel Okrent, discussing Lithgow’s role in the Broadway play Giant and Sondheim’s tumultuous life.
John Lithgow on Playing Roald Dahl in Giant
“He had a very hard life. There are several elements. You know, when you ask yourself what makes him hate like that, the various clues I found had to do with his upbringing and his experiences.”
The Play’s Relevance to Modern Conflicts
“We should note that in 2020, Roald Dahl's family posted an apology for his anti-Semitism on the family website. Yes, they apologized and he never did.”
Lithgow’s Churchill Voice Technique
“I even took my melon baller and an apple to one of the first rehearsals, which was nothing but sitting around the table and talking. But I proposed this idea in front of everybody.”
Daniel Okrent on Sondheim’s Life and Art
“The difference between Sweeney and me is that I turned it into art. I think that's a sentence that says a great deal about his entire career and his entire life.”
“The difference between Sweeney and me is that I turned it into art. I think that's a sentence that says a great deal about his entire career and his entire life.”
“In the letter, my mother said, The only thing I regret in life is giving birth to you.”
“He had a very hard life. There are several elements. You know, when you ask yourself what makes him hate like that, the various clues I found had to do with his upbringing and his experiences.”
Hosts
Guests
Stephen Sondheim
person
John Lithgow
person
Roald Dahl
person
Daniel Okrent
person
Sweeney Todd
media
The Crown
media
Pacific Overtures
media
Winston Churchill
person
Farrar, Strauss and Giroux
organization
Company
media
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “Best Of: John Lithgow / Sondheim’s tumultuous life” inside PodZeus.
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime