Life of Pi: Projections, Lifeboats, and Tigers: Oh My! - Huxley Westemeier

 

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 and floor created shifting waves and seascapes. During a scene where Pi encounters a storm, projected waves hitting the boat were perfectly timed with the physically rotating lifeboat, a technically impressive effect. The entire floor became a map with a dotted line highlighting the cargo ship’s path from India to Manila. Haze and fog effects helped sell the “stranded at sea” aesthetic, and I particularly enjoyed the actors with fish puppets who added liveliness to the otherwise barren open sea set. It felt like I was standing within a live abstract art exhibit in a gallery. It was completely immersive.

Taha Mandviwala as Pi is fantastic, providing fascinating commentary on philosophy and realistically portraying Pi’s collapse into grief and perhaps insanity at times that felt genuine and heartfelt. Discussing the cast without mentioning the puppets as designed by Finn Caldwell and Nick Barnes is impossible. The Bengal Tiger (named Richard Parker) consisted of three highly synchronized actors, one controlling the head movements and the other two managing the legs and tail. From my seat on the upper balcony, it looked like a colorful tiger as the puppeteers faded away in light tan clothing. Countless puppets appear throughout the show- a giraffe in the opening scene, orangutans, hyenas, and sea turtles. I’d like to note that this production does not shy away from its depiction of animal violence. The puppets were so convincing that it made me highly emotional to watch Pi forced to kill a helpless animal in exchange for food and survival. Red cloth and other fabrics symbolized blood, but it was unmistakably gory. I believe the powerful feelings of sadness these moments had on me is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the puppets. I felt genuinely attached to the animals as their realistic movements brought them to life and was as immersed in their stories as I was in Pi's.

    I can’t apply the same reviewing logic that I would use with a standard play or musical. Life of Pi isn’t just a story. It’s an experience akin to watching a high-budget movie play out in front of you. The projections, puppets, and moving set pieces create an environment where anything is possible, and everything in front of you is believable. Richard Parker WAS scary at times. Pi felt helpless, stranded in the middle of the ocean, and he brought all of us along with him. It’s such a unique experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. Due to the violence, gore, and intense social commentary, it didn't leave me overjoyed or even optimistic. However, the production quality elevated the entire show. The powerful emotional and philosophical experience of this production will remain with me for years. Go. See this show while it's here through March 9th or at another tour stop to come. Enter into it without researching the story. Pi will take you on his harrowing journey, but be wary of Richard Parker!