“Bengal Tiger at the Baghad Zoo,” now playing at the Mark Taper Theater, is not for the fainthearted. A raw look at the effects of the war in Iraq, it has language that would embarrass a sailor. Yet, with all this repellent material, the story lingers long after the lights go on. Many questions are raised about man’s destructive nature.
Yes, there is a “real tiger,” played by an actor, who speaks and philosophizes about his drive to kill and eat other creatures. Is he guilty? Do human beings also have this inborn lust to kill? And what does God think about all this?
There are all kinds of spin for this creative work by Rajiv Joseph, set in Iraq during the United States intervention. Two American soldiers are on duty in the Baghad zoo, where a “tiger” is bemoaning his fate as a caged animal, thousands of miles from home. The poor beast attacks a soldier and is shot, later to return as a ghost. There are other murders and other ghosts. Uday Hussein, the butchered son of Saddat, appears and smugly brags about his diabolical misdeeds. Hrach Titizian gives a chilling performance in the role; one that alone would make this production worth seeing. It is one of the best acting jobs of the season and should win Titizian recognition in the way of awards. As Oday, he is arrogant and mean, relishing his actions as a torturer and rapist.
Others in the cast fit tightly into their roles. Kevin Tighe, appropriately named, plays the tiger smoothly and subtly. The two soldiers, both excellent, are Glenn Davis and Brad Fleischer. They manage to interpolate into the English language an assortment of words not to be found in a family newspaper.
A key member of ensemble is Arian Moayed as an Iraqi working for the United States military. A gardener with an artistic gift, he epitomizes the plight of the ordinary citizen who must face an empty future. Necar Zadegan and Sheila Vand are tragic as abused women.
The scenic design is simple but effective, a tiled gateway evoking the Mideast. Most effective is the garden with huge topiaries, created by the gardener and now going to ruin. Moises Kaufman deserves much credit for his directing of this dark, daunting drama.
This is a play for the daring who are willing to face the brutal fact of war’s dehumanization.