By Mabel Pais

What kinds of sacrifices can be demanded in the pursuit of beauty and perfection? Do friendship, health, even life, rank as acceptable losses? This question is at the center of Rajiv Joseph’s funny and deeply moving Guards at the Taj, winner of both Obie and Lucille Lortel Awards in 2015. The performances begin the 44th season of Stage West Theater located at 821-823 West Vickery Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76104, with a 5-week regional premiere run beginning Thursday, October 20. In 1648 India, Humayan and Babur are two lowly Imperial guards, keeping watch over the walls around the newly completed Taj Mahal on the last night before it is revealed to the public in all its glory. Despite their differences (Humayan is a believer in discipline and rule-following, while Babur is a dreamer who questions pretty much everything), these two have forged a deep friendship, and they banter to pass the time.

Unfortunately, they eventually come to the realization that, due to their lowly status, they will be responsible for carrying out a horrific task decreed by the Emperor. Come morning, they have no choice but to comply, and so they do, but it changes them irrevocably. Can their friendship survive? Can they? And is a creation of such astounding beauty worth such a terrible price? This haunting play is sure to stay with audiences long after the curtain comes down.

“A piercing examination of the nature of beauty, its relationship to power, and its unspeakable costs.” remarks the ‘Chicago Reader.’

 “Two ordinary guys ordered to do the unthinkable,” writes ‘The New York Times.’

 ‘Guards at the Taj’ will be directed by Shyama Nithiananda, seen at Stage West in last season’s JQA. The cast features Dhruv Ravi as Babur and Rahul Joshi as Humayun, both making their Stage West debuts. Mr. Ravi’s credits include ‘As You Like It’ for Shakespeare Dallas and ‘Taming of the Shrew’ for Ithaca Shakespeare Company. Mr. Joshi’s credits include ‘Ocean in a Teacup’ at Theatre Row and ‘God of Carnage’ at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, both at New York city.

Set design is by Brian Clinnin, with lighting design by Bryan Stevenson, costume design by Amy Poe, sound design by Ryan Simón, and props and set décor by Lynn Lovett. Watch the promo video: youtu.be/l1fdIVPa0fI

TICKETS

For Tickets to the performance, visit online  at stagewest.org/tickets or the box office at 821-823 West Vickery Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76104 or call

817-STG-WEST.Where we are

Rajiv Joseph, Playwright’s Statement

Because my father is from India, I got to visit the Taj Mahal when I was ten years old and then, once again, when I was twenty-two. When I was ten, my aunt told me about some of the legends that are associated with the Taj Mahal. Several of those stories find their way into this play. I think it’s interesting that the stories you hear as a little kid can stay with you for several years. A part of you never forgets them. And so it’s interesting for me, as a writer, to revisit those stories—the ones planted in me as a child—and bring them to life in a play.

This play was very fun for me to write because, even though it takes place in 1648 and is about two Mughal Imperial guards, I decided to give the characters a very contemporary and American style of speaking. I realized that in reality, these guys would never be speaking English anyhow. And also, because they are best friends, their dialogue with each other would be casual, they’d use slang… so I was freed up to let them speak in any way I thought was cool.