David Mirvish & Simon Friend/Life of Pi, based on the novel by Yann Martel, adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti, directed by Max Webster, CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, closes Oct. 6. Tickets here.
First of all, full disclosure.
Life of Pi is one of my all-time favourite novels, so when I heard that it was being adapted as a stage play, I was very leery. I needn’t have worried, however. Life of Pi is a breathtaking achievement. In fact, I would go so far as to say, the brilliant production is unforgettable.
Yann Martel’s acclaimed 2001 novel was adapted for the stage by British dramatist Lolita Chakrabarti, and some might remember Crow’s Theatre production of her intriguing play, Red Velvet, a couple of years ago.
Life of Pi was first produced at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield in 2019, before transferring to the West End in 2021 and Broadway in 2023, racking up a slew of Olivier and Tony Awards on the journey.
This is a production of immense imagination. The combination of magnificent puppets (Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell), gorgeous video projections (Andrzej Goulding), evocative lighting design (Tim Lutkin and Tim Deiling), and stirring cinematic score (Andrew T. Mackay), not to mention uber-clever sets and costumes (Tim Hatley) — all combine together to create a world on stage that is absolutely spectacular in its conceit.
The Story
For those who haven’t read the book or seen Ang Lee’s 2012 Oscar-winning movie, here’s a brief summary.
The young boy Pi (Divesh Subaskaran) grows up in a zoo in Pondicherry with his father (Ameet Chana), mother (Goldy Notay) and sister Rani (Riya Rajeev). Due to increasing unrest in India, the family and their zoo animals relocate to Canada.
When the boat sinks, Pi is the only human survivor, along with a hyena, an injured zebra, and an orangutan. The hyena kills the zebra and the orangutan, before being killed by a Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker who had been hiding under the tarpaulin. Pi and the tiger ultimately spend 227 days together on the lifeboat, before drifting onto a beach in Mexico.
The Play
The novel is very philosophical, as Pi grapples with existential questions about the nature of truth, reality, and God. In deft fashion, Chakrabarti manages to keep this important aspect of the novel intact in the stage adaptation.
The structure of the play goes back in forth in time, from Pi’s hospital room in Mexico, where he is being questioned about the sinking of the Japanese ship by Mrs. Okamoto (Lilian Tsang), under the protective watch of a representative from the Canadian embassy, Leela Chen (Shawna Bhawsar) — to the lifeboat and Pi’s time at sea with Richard Parker.
I should add that genders have been bent from the original novel, but it simply doesn’t matter, as both the men and women of the ensemble play multiple roles. Needless to say, you can hear every word because the cast is from Britain, and British diction is flawless.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
The heart of the play is the manipulation of the eye-popping puppets, which are built in hinged pieces so that they can be manoeuvred to mimic animal movement. Apparently, the puppets are so physically demanding that there is an abundance of puppeteers in the cast so they can keep switching in and out for different performances.
Puppet designer Finn Caldwell is credited as puppetry movement director, and kudos to him for those stunning animal images, but we have to give a huge shout-out to director Max Webster who brought the whole production together. Life of Pi works on every level, be it visual or emotional.
Let’s not forget Divesh Subaskaran as Pi in his first professional role. He absolutely captures the wonder and the rapture of Pi’s inquisitive character, which anchors the story.
In fact, there is not one weak link in the cast.
The captivating Life of Pi is a must see. The combination of all the dazzling visual elements plus a talented cast makes for an enthralling theatre experience.
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