Rajiv Joseph Livres

Guards at the Taj takes as its starting point an enduring legend and prompts contemporary audiences to revisit questions about art and privilege.

Set in Russia over the course of 90 years, this thrilling and epic new play by Rajiv Joseph (Atlantic's Guards at the Taj, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo) traces the stories of seven men and women connected by history, myth and conspiracy theories.

Set against the backdrop of 1648 India, two young Imperial Guards, Humayun and Babur, engage in contemplative discussions during their dawn watch at the Taj Mahal. As they discuss the majestic monument they have yet to see, they uncover a chilling royal decree: those who built the Taj must face a gruesome fate to prevent further beauty from being created. Their light-hearted banter turns grave as they confront the reality of their duty, foreshadowing the dark themes of sacrifice and the cost of beauty.

The story unfolds as Khadim finds himself in a tense confrontation with Vice Principal Dr. Danielson, who uses a minor infraction to detain him. As the encounter escalates, Danielson shifts between being sympathetic and confrontational, uncovering a web of lies surrounding Khadim's possible involvement in various crimes. This psychological duel explores themes of truth, deception, and the pressures faced by students in a high school setting.

"Ty Greene is a normal guy with three very big problems. In an unprecedented (for him) run of promiscuity, Ty has managed to impregnate three women in the span of one week: His ex-girlfriend, his 40-something married next-door neighbor, and his 18 year-old student. In this edgy comedy by playwright Rajiv Joseph, Ty's problems illuminate every triumph and failure of his life, and as the women in his world converge and figure out what's happened, Ty realizes that his life is adrift, and that he only has a limited time to try to piece it back together. All This Intimacy, which according to The New York Times has "a certain can't-look-away pull," is a comedy about friendship and lust and how the two don't mix."--Publisher's website.