Hall for Cornwall, Truro, Cornwall – until 1st June 2024
Reviewed by Kerry Gilbert
5*****
“A magnificent story alongside a visual masterpiece. It’s magic in every sense of the word!”
Seated in a packed audience at the Hall for Cornwall, I sensed the feeling of excitement and anticipation radiating from the auditorium, preparing myself for a captivating experience from this theatrical adaption of Yan Martel’s renowned novel.
Going into Life of Pi, I had limited knowledge of the story, but I knew that it was a tale of survival and adventure. What I didn’t expect was how much of an emotional rollercoaster it would be, from the humorous banter between Pi and her extended family to the powerful segments about seeing the natural world from an entirely different perspective. Adwitha Arumagam plays Pi and in her impressive professional debut, she portrays the complex character with ease, encouraging the audience to laugh and reflect along with her. She is supported by a phenomenal cast of performers (including Goldy Notay and Ralph Birtwell as Pi’s Mother and Father). The entire cast bring the story to life with sensitivity and conviction, completely capturing the audience’s imagination and attention.
Life of Pi is an extraordinary tale of Piscine Molitor “Pi Patel”, a young Indian boy from Pondicherry, India, delving into themes of spirituality from a young age. After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, he endures 227 days adrift and there are five survivors stranded on a single lifeboat – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, a 17 year old boy and a Bengal tiger.
The stage visuals were exquisite. Starting in India at Pi’s father’s Zoo, the audience was treated to remarkable puppetry showcasing giraffes, horses, zebras, an orangutan, hyenas, butterflies, and the humorously named Bengal tiger, Richard Parker (due to a clerical error). Each enchanting animal puppet was manipulated by single or multiple actors who also mimicked the creatures’ sounds. The puppeteers nearly vanished from sight, allowing the puppet to emerge as living beings themselves through the power of imagination.
The transitions between scenes are almost dreamlike with animated projections, enchanting music and the swift movement of set pieces, perfectly capturing the state of Pi’s mind as he recounts the 227 days at sea and the past and present events blur together. An additional, much appreciated touch is the projection of typewriter text onto specific elements of the set to illustrate the timeline after a scene change. This aids the flow of the piece, which is largely set in the expansive ocean where time effectively stands still.
Throughout most of the play, the backdrop depicted the vast sea where Pi and her companions grappled with the challenges of survival on a lifeboat with scarce provisions. There is one particular moment where Pi and Richard Parker are underneath the night sky. When lighting and projections are presented with a couple of constellation-inspired lighting props, it is quite possibly the most beautiful night sky scene that I have ever witnessed on stage.
This show is an astounding story of courage and endurance which thoroughly deserved a standing ovation. Featuring unrivalled puppetry and beautiful sets, the creative team have brought this memorable story to life on stage with care and heart. This is a show not to be missed, so don’t miss the opportunity to witness it whilst you can!