A Parsi touch to royalty

In a parallel universe, when Queen Victoria came to India to inaugurate the then Victoria Terminus, she took a liking to a Parsi boy, whom she took back with her to England. This boy was rechristened Edward VII and eventually became the King of England. Since then, the Parsi lineage in the Royal Family has been kept secret, and only the Royal butler, who is born and brought up in the palace (and is also a Parsi), is sworn to silence to never reveal 'The Buckingham Secret'.

The two-hour laugh riot opens with Prince Charles, Prince Philip, Prince William and Prince Harry supporting India in a cricket match against England. Their butler, Percy, keeps telling them to behave like royalty, as opposed to the 'mad, ruffian-like' Parsis, but the advice falls on deaf ears.

From then on, the play is about how the Royal Family, including the late Princess Diana and Camila Parker, struggle to hide their Parsi heritage, which they feel is part of their royal culture. However, the twist is when President Obama visits Buckingham Palace, telling the Royal Family that they have to vacate Buckingham Palace because they have been informed that they are not true-blue royalty. How the family overcomes this sticky situation forms the crux of the play.

In addition to the outstanding performances by all the actors, credit must be given to Fali Unwalla, who designed the sets to recreate the grandeur of the royalty living at Buckingham Palace.

Director Meherzad Patel deserves applause for the hilarious, tongue-in-cheek look at royalty. Even if you aren't a Parsi, this play is definitely worth a watch.