By Michael Buzzelli
Stranded on a lifeboat after a shipwreck, Piscine “Pi” Patel (Taha Mandviwala) must survive the Pacific Ocean with unlikely companions in Yann Martel’s “Life of Pi.”
During a time of political unrest in India, Pi’s father, (Sorab Wadia), a zookeeper, packs his family and their animals aboard a Japanese freighter to make a new home in Canada. During a storm several days away from their last stop in Manila, the boat capsizes. His father, Mother (Jessica Angleskhan) and sister Rani (Sharayu Mahale) perish.
Over 200 days later, Pi ends up in a hospital in Mexico. The boy is reluctant to share the gory details of his survival. When Pi finally recants his tale with Mr. Okamoto (Alan Ariano) and Ms. Chen (Mi Kang), they find his story far-fetched.
He claims that he journeyed on a lifeboat through the Pacific with Richard Parker (puppeteers Ben Durocher, Shiloh Goodin, Anna Leigh Gortner, Austin Wong Harper and Aaron Haskell), a Bengal tiger.
While it’s an unusual name for a tiger, Pi explains that a clerical error mistook the name of the tiger for the man who captured him.
Act II is a harrowing adventure as the boy endures his frightening circumstances.
A preview of the show can be seen here.
“Life of Pi” is a sumptuous visual feast.
Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell’s puppetry design are majestic creations. Caldwell’s movement of the animals under his team of puppeteers is lithe, graceful, but brutal and animalistic. Early in the play, Richard Parker eats a “live” goat. The scene is so viscerally depicted it’s hard to watch.
Mandviwala is fantastic as Pi. He exudes charm and boundless energy.
Angleskhan and Kang are delightful, making the tragedy of their fates even more heartbreaking.
The Cook (alternating between Ben Durocher and Toussaint Jeanlouis) is menacing.
Rishi Jaiswal, in a cameo role is another standout, oozing charisma as Mamaji.
Martel’s story, adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti under the direction of Max Webster is a kinetic, glorious work of art.
There is masterful video and animation design by Andrzej Goulding. The projections are thrilling.
While the “Life of Pi” is filled with pomp and circumstance, the show stands on the merits of the amazing story it has to tell.
It dances on a fine philosophical line between truth and lie, fact and fiction. The show even wrestles with theology. Near the end of the second act, Pi turns to Mr. Okamoto and says, “That’s what fiction is about, isn’t it, the selective transforming of reality? The twisting of it to bring out its essence?”
“Life of Pi” proves that, above all things, a good story matters.
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“Life of Pi” runs from January 28 to February 2 at the Benedum Center, 7th Street and Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15222. For more information, click here.
“When Pi finally recants his tale…” ? He takes it back? Says it never happened? That’s one mild “grammar ruler” rap on the knuckles! 😉
I understand your frustration, but I saw it as a psychological defense mechanism and not a “It’s just a dream” story.