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In what show can you find a volatile hyena, graceful giraffe, maternal orangutan, peaceful turtle and intimidating tiger grace the stage?
Life of Pi of course.
This Olivier winning production really does take your imagination for a ride in a theatrical retelling of the award-winning book.
Don’t forget to read my review of Hamilton at The Palace Theatre in Manchester
A story snapshop
For those unfamiliar, we meet Pi. She is an inquisitive young girl who lives on a zoo with her family. Soon we learn of the unrest in India and their need to emigrate to Canada.
Whilst on a freighter, with the animals, they encounter a storm that causes its sinking. Pi escapes onto a lifeboat along with some of her animal foes, including a Bengal tiger.
We follow her fight to survive for 227 days. An awful, almost unbelievable feat. But is there more to the story than meets the eye?
A dramatic retelling
The playwright LOLITA CHAKRABARTI certainly doesn’t shy away from the dark themes of loneliness, grief and pain. The first act moves fast, locations shift, colours pop and the air of excitement is palpable. Whereas the second act slows, with most of the story confined to the lifeboat. It becomes violent, dramatic and heartbreaking. Both acts captivating for different reasons.
The stark contrast between the sterile hospital room and Pi’s story telling is genius. With a quick open of a shutter and bustle of an ensemble, the stage becomes a wonder. From a leafy zoo and bustling market to a foreboding boat and calm ocean scene, we are spoilt for choice.
It’s a knockout
The menagerie of animals makes this production a knockout. Through the thoughtful movement of the actor inside the driftwood animal exterior, the primal personalities feel real. And dangerous. I want to feel warmth for these creatures but instead I feel fear. They do a fantastic job of reminding us that they are wild animals.
And where would we be without Pi herself, a resilient, curious and fierce individual. It is a huge responsibility to lead this show and TANVI VIRMANI does it masterfully. Very much channelling the tiger, her commanding performance keeps us invested in the ups and downs of this epic journey.
Life of Pi is a visual feast. Uncage your imagination and book tickets today.
Playing at The Lowry until Sunday 7 January 2024. Tour dates here.
Image credit: Johan Persson