Life of Pi--The Most Wondrous Show Broadway Has Seen In a Long Time

By Joseph Cervelli

Anyone who read the novel "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel most likely was very excited when it was turned into a film and an excellent one at that. Yet, as good as that was, the extraordinary stage production with book adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti at the Schoenfeld Theater surpasses it. The expression "nothing like live theater" certainly applies here. I can easily see why the show won the Olivier Award for Best Play and Best Actor (Hiran Abeysekera) who reprises his role here. He alternates the exceptionally demanding role both in an emotional and physical sense with Adi Dixit. I saw Abeysekera who indeed was amazing and Tony worthy.

 

The play which combines realism with fantasy and whimsy (your decision what is real and what is not ) starts out quite sedately. Taking place in a hospital room in Mexico 1978 a nurse comes in speaking Spanish and addressing someone who is not in the bed. Is this where fantasy begins? And then comes in a woman (Kirstin Louie)  from the Canadian Embassy and a man (Daisuke Tsuji)  from the Japanese Ministry of Transport. They want to know how Pi (Abeysekera) who is actually hiding under the bed survived by himself for over one hundred days at sea when the cargo  ship he was on with his family sunk. Pi (a name he gave himself) is a spunky and impish seventeen year old who delights in being both serious and silly. 

His story begins with the run down zoo his family owns in India and their need to escape to Canada because of riots in the streets. Pi is a mischievous lad who decides to get a too close up look at the Bengal tiger which Pi's father has named Richard Parker (you will find out why in this  amusing running joke). He barely escapes. Pi is quite funny as he decides he will adapt several faiths--Muslim, Judaism and Christianity along with Hinduism. There may be a few others thrown in there. The family board the not very conducive cargo ship filled with a crew of undesirables and several animals from the zoo. Now, while this is more than a bit questionable, dispel rationale beliefs and just go with the show for full enjoyment. Pi is an exceptionally bright young  man who delights in discussing philosophical ideas with a family that is more interested in surviving. A storm ensues and the superb lighting by Tim Lutkin, sets and costumes by the always wonderful Tim Hadley along with the ominous sound design by Carolyn Downing makefor a breathtaking experience. But most important are the realistically designed puppets by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell with movement by Caldwell and associate Scarlet Wilderink. 

The ship sinks and all are lost except for a few of the animals which include the organtuan, hyena, zebra and the frightful tiger. You know immediately that the only one of those animals that will survive will be the latter. So, how does Pi not fall to this prey. That is part of the story which is almost lovely in its simplicity. Abeysekera pulls off the very difficult feat of near starvation and dehydration so realistically. His listlessness is incredibly believable as one can imagine. 

There are so many scenes of visual wizardry including one when Pi just into the sea and goes under. And great praise to all the puppeteers too many to mention but each is an expert at what they are able to accomplish. You might, at first, wonder why the hospital bed appears on the boat Pi escapes to but when you give it some thought as my companion and I did it really does make perfectly good sense. 

While visually you will be entranced there is much more here dealing with faith, love and goodness in the way you celebrate each.

Under the brilliantly inventive direction by Max Webster, this is the most wondrous show Broadway has seen in a very long time. 

PHOTOS: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

Tickets are available at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre 236 West 45th Street.