Critical Review at Hennepin Arts

  I walked into Life of Pi without prior knowledge of its powerful story. A boy stranded on a lifeboat with a tiger and award-winning projection design. I wasn’t expecting the heart-wrenching tragic tale I witnessed or the level of immersion possible onstage. The story follows a young Indian boy, Pi, who is shipwrecked with a Bengal tiger for months before his eventual rescue. It begins with Pi recovering in a hospital. He recounts his experience for Canadian embassy members who are attempting to figure out why the shipwreck occurred. There are a few surprising twists, which I won’t spoil, but the main story is easy enough to follow. I was drawn in from the moment it began. The effortless and ever-changing set design by Tim Hatley ( Shrek, Dreamgirls ) was wondrous. Walls open and fold inwards to reveal the bow of a ship and side panels glide towards the center of the stage to construct Pi’s lifeboat, which is on a separate turntable. Dynamic projections across both the walls a...

The new play Life of Pi is based on Yann Martel’s 2001 best-selling novel , which was adapted into a film by Ang Lee in 2012. The show first premiered in England before transferring to Broadway in 2023. The play follows Piscine “Pi” Patel, who, narrating the story in a flashback, describes the fantastical events that take place following a shipwreck where he is stranded at sea. Unsurprisingly, much of the show’s emotional weight rests on Taha Mandviwala, who plays the titular protagonist with candid rawness. Mandviwala’s Pi shifts seamlessly between humor and exhaustion, adrenaline and anguish, his performance continuously bursting with feeling. Other standouts in the cast include Jessica Angleskhan, who shines in dual roles as the concerned nurse and Pi’s warm, protective Amma. Sinclair Mitchell’s Admiral Jackson, the author of a book on survival at sea, provides a practical, sometimes comic counterpoint to Pi’s more philosophical struggles. Still, the undoubtable star of the show is...

Last Tuesday I spent my night in the living, breathing company of a Bengal tiger. The event was a theatrical feat of poignant pacing, breathtaking performances, and pure magic, achieved by none other than 2025’s touring production of Life of Pi (LoP) .  Based on the hit novel and movie of the same name, LoP follows teenager Pi Patel surviving 227 days at sea with a tiger. After other lackluster Broadway reimaginings of popular movies (I’m looking at you, Pretty Woman! ) I was doubtful this show would make an impact. In reality, LoP grabbed its newest adaptation by the horns. It was an entirely unique and enchanting production that paid effective tribute to its movie’s wondrously vibrant style.  The first thing that stood out to me was LoP’s flawless technical effects. Unlike any other production I’ve seen, it utilizes a harmonious combination of projections, versatile set design, turntables and old school lighting effects, allowing actors to practically dance between I...

     Hyenas and Tigers and Orangutans, oh my! All of these creatures and more are featured in the Tony Award winning tour of Life of Pi. Based on the 2001 novel by Yann Martel and the 2012 movie of the same name, Life of Pi follows Piscine Molitor (Pi) Patel (Taha Mandviwala) after a devastating shipwreck that kills his family and leaves him stranded on a lifeboat with a Royal Bengal Tiger. Struggling with the loss of his family and stuck with a frightening companion, Pi must learn how to survive through unconventional means that shake everything he believes in. A story of faith, truth, and recovery, Life of Pi is a fantastical tale that comes to life on stage. The most impressive part of this play are the technical elements. Life of Pi marries Tim Hatley’s set design, Tim Lutkin and Tim Deiling’s lighting design, and Andrzej Goulding’s video and animation design beautifully to display the unique settings in the play. The scenes in Pondicherry, India combine colorful li...

Hadestown is a Tony Award-winning musical by Anaïs Mitchell that reimagines the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Set in a dystopian world, the show follows Orpheus, a musician with a gift for song, as he journeys to the underworld to rescue his love, Eurydice, from the grasp of Hades. I recently had the chance to see the Hadestown non-equity tour, and I have to say, it truly did justice to the Broadway production. Having seen it on Broadway before, I was curious how this version would compare—especially without the iconic turntable, which plays such a huge role in the staging. However, the cast and creative team worked around it brilliantly, proving that Hadestown is just as powerful no matter how it's staged. One of the standout aspects of this production was the technical design. The set was minimalistic but perfect for the story. It allowed the emotions and performances to drive the show without overpowering. The technical element of this show that stood out to me ...

  My first impression of Hadestown was that this was a party on stage. The show had been talked up to me by many of my friends and the audience was going wild as soon as the lights dimmed, and the production certainly justified all the excitement. Hermes, the host of this party, was played by the exuberant Jaylon C. Crump, who led the audience through the story with a passion that was shown equally in happy and serious scenes. He also introduces each character as they make their grand entrance into the party that is the opening number, “Road to Hell”.  One of the first characters he announces is Persephone, played by Namisa Mdlalose Bizana, who, while having a nice voice, never quite gave the energy and commanding presence needed to play the boisterous Persephone. This was proven in her somewhat lackluster performance of “Our Lady of the Underground” that failed to have the power behind it necessary to make the song effective. In striking contrast, Hades (Nickolaus Colón), th...