77. Matilda

In this episode of Adapt or Perish, we're looking at the most miraculous little girl in the history of English literature, Roald Dahl's Matilda!

In this episode we discuss:

• The original 1988 novel.
• The 1996 movie, directed by Danny DeVito, written by Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord, and starring Mara Wilson, DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, and Pam Ferris.
• The 2010 musical, book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.

Footnotes:

• Matilda at 30
• Mara Wilson and More Reveal 13 Things You Never Knew About Matilda from Thrillist
• Mara Wilson's 2016 book Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame
• Afternoon Tea: A Matilda Reunion
• Groundhog Day: The Musical
• The "pantomime dame"

55. The BFG

In this whizzpopping episode of Adapt or Perish, we discuss Roald Dahl’s classic novel The BFG!

For this episode, we read, watched, and discussed:

• Roald Dahl’s original 1982 children’s novel. Read it on iBooks or Amazon.
• The 1989 animated movie from Cosgrove Hall Films, directed by Brian Cosgrove, written by John Hambley, and starring David Jason and Amanda Root. Watch it on iTunes.
• Disney’s 2016 live action movie, directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison, and starring Mark Rylance and Ruby Barnhill. Watch it on iTunes, Amazon, or Disney+.

Footnotes:

• Danny, the Champion of the World
• Cosgrove Hall’s output, including The Wind in the Willows, Danger Mouse, and Count Duckula
• Production team (and couple) Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall

31. Where the Wild Things Are & Fantastic Mr. Fox

In this episode of Adapt or Perish, we discuss Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are and Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox!

For this episode, we read and watched:

• Maurice Sendak’s original picture book, first published in 1963. Buy on Amazon.
• Spike Jonze’s 2009 live-action feature adaptation. Written by Jonze and Dave Eggers, and starring Max Records, Catherine Keener, Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper, James Gandolfini, Catherine O’Hara, and Forest Whitaker. Watch on iTunes or Amazon.
• Roald Dahl’s original book, first published in 1970. Read on Amazon or iBooks.
• Wes Anderson’s 2009 stop-motion feature adaptation. Written by Anderson and Noah Baumbach, and starring George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, and Michael Gambon. Watch on iTunes or Amazon.

Footnotes:

• Adapt or Perish Episode 22: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• The first trailer for Where the Wild Things Are
• Oskar and the Eight Blessings, written by Richard Simon and Tanya Simon, illustrated by Mark Siegel.
• Glen Keane Live Animates The Little Mermaid's Ariel
• Where The Wild Things Are - Early DISNEY CG Animation Test
• “Vern's WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE review 'monsterpiece’!!!!”
• A look at the recording of the dialogue in Where the Wild Things Are and Fantastic Mr. Fox
• Yes, Roald Dahl was a bigot.