Reviewed at the Lyceum, Sheffield by Michelle Rawlins
This visually vibrant and dynamic adaptation of Yann Martel’s Booker Prize novel Life of Pi is as an exquisite example of theatre at its very best.
The story begins as the philosophical Pi begins to recover from the tragedy of losing his whole family in an accident at sea. We follow him on his journey of survival on a lifeboat with only the company of a ferocious and unpredictable Royal Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker. Oh, and an injured Zebra and a crazed hyena for part of the journey, too.
Dramatically and poignantly relayed, scenes flit from Pi in his Mexican hospital bed to the 227 days he spent stranded on a lifeboat in the ocean.
Puppets in the Life of Pi
Under the direction of Finn Caldwell, the extraordinary use of puppets is what makes this show a masterpiece.
Richard Parker, who’s amusingly named after a clerk in an administrative mix-up, has a remarkable six puppeteers assigned to him alone! Together they ensure the terrifying ferocity of this killer giant cat has the intended effect. When approached about this current reimagination of his best-selling novel, Martel told the production team the animals should feel ‘dangerous’. After all, he explained, ‘If an orangutan gets loose on a boat – everyone is in danger’.
The result is an astounding success. Although the tiger is the centre piece, each puppet is worthy of mention. From the enigmatic orangutan to the mischievous meerkats. Many are created from what looks like rough pieces of driftwood to represent the detritus found at sea. The skill of their choreography is phenomenal. And the sound and lighting, led by Carolyn Downing, Tim Lutkin and Tim Deiling result in a fantastical feast for the senses.
Directed by Max Webster, and adapted for the stage by celebrated playwright and actor Lolita Chakrabarti, this production is as weighty as it is heart-warming.
And it certainly isn’t just about a myriad of spectacularly assaulting special effects.
The strange, sagely humorous, and at times deliberately disturbing story, sees Pi expertly exploring the brain’s fluctuating capacity to go into fight mode and the price such life changing events have on the human psyche.
Performed beautifully by Divesh Subaskaran, Pi’s alarming recollections address the emotional complexities that come with loneliness, extreme physical pain, and severe mental anguish.
His tools for survival come from past words of wisdom delivered by relatives. As they float in and out of his mind, they beg the ultimate question: are the terrifying animals simply a physical representation of the voices in Pi’s head?
Whatever you decide, what can’t be denied is that this wondrous show is nothing less than a masterful piece of theatrical storytelling.
Life of Pi is showing until September 16, then touring until June 2024
Tickets available here