The works of US playwright Rajiv Joseph have occasionally been seen in the UK: most notably Jamie Lloyd directed his play Guards at the Taj, which had a seperate revival at the Orange Tree last year. Joseph’s biggest domestic hit, though, is 2009’s Pulitzer-nominated Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, which went on to transfer to Broadway in 2011, with the late, great Robin Williams in the role of the titular fast-talking tiger.
Following the bewildered beast as he attempts to adjust to unexpected events in the aftermath of Saddam Hussein’s overthrow, the dark, somewhat supernatural comedy clearly had its roots in the actual aftermath of the Second Iraq War and the US occupation that was still winding down when the play debuted. Presumably concern as to the play’s topicality may have partially explained why there has been no UK production since, but it feels likely that not actually being about a current situation may prove quite liberating, especially in the hands of this production’s director, mischievous surrealist Omar Elerian.
There’s no star on the ludicrous scale of Williams, but David Threlfall is a decent name for the tiger, and there’s a juicy supporting cast that includes big name Arinzé Kene, who has presumably been sweet talked by Elerian – who directed his massively acclaimed play Misty – into the relatively supporting role of US marine Kev.
