Theatre Review: LIFE OF PI – The Lowry, Salford

The cast of LIFE OF PI UK Tour. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Showcasing exceptional puppetry and stagecraft, LIFE OF PI transports audiences from the vibrant markets of India to the tumultuous Pacific Ocean.

4 out of 5 stars

From book to film to stage, LIFE OF PI follows the path many novels take, becoming adapted for live audiences in unique and inspiring ways in which no other medium could be.

LIFE OF PI is certainly a novel that might induce many questions as to how this could be portrayed live, but the magic of theatre cannot be underestimated, as audiences are transported to the colourful markets of India, become enclosed with the animals in a zoo, and are taken with the wild waves of the Pacific Ocean.

The story is that of Indian boy Piscine Patel or Pi. His family’s life in India is uprooted as the country’s political unrest becomes closer to home. When the family zoo is targeted by criminals and the lives of the animals are at stake, Pi’s father decides to relocate his wife, daughter and son to Canada, taking his zoo with him.

The cast of LIFE OF PI UK Tour. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

While travelling, their cargo ship hits rough waters and begins to sink. Shipwrecked, Pi endures 227 days adrift at sea. But he’s not alone: a zebra, orangutan and hyena fight for their place on the small lifeboat, animal nature takes course, and blood is shed, coming to a climax as Richard Parker, the fearsome Bengal tiger, leaps from the sea to take its place at the head of the lifeboat.

Pi narrates his story to investigators, digging to reveal the truth about his survival and the troubles he faced onboard before tragedy struck. But all is not as it seems, as the truth becomes distorted, and reality becomes a subjective story that the audience is left to ponder.

The staging, at first sparse and simple, becomes a colourful and playful vessel that transports the audience through the story. Simple yet immensely effective changes to set, lighting and sound pull the audience from the family zoo to the markets of India. Later, a revolving stage and clever rope work bring audiences to the rough seas as Pi ponders his route for survival. He’s pulled from left to right, as if floating, whilst watching the tiger, only mere feet away from him, take charge of his boat and only chance for survival. Such simple rope work brings this tiny detail to life: as Pi pushes the water around him, the ropes are pulled, dragging him across the stage.

The cast of LIFE OF PI UK Tour. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Despite the extremely powerful storytelling portrayed through the set and puppetry, it is, however, the characters that weaken this production, bringing a lack of emotional connections between the cast. The tone amid the Patel family feels flat, and somewhat detached, leaving little sentiment to ponder even when Pi’s tale takes such a dark turn. It’s the childlike innocence brought by Divesh Subaskaran in his role as Pi that brings warmth and allure, generating many moments of light-hearted humour throughout.

The true star of the show is the puppetry and stagecraft. From a flurry of butterflies to a full-size tiger, each one, no matter its size, is precise in its movement. Every animal throughout is portrayed convincingly, blurring the line between storytelling and truth, somewhat comparatively to the way Pi tells his tale of survival.

LIFE OF PI is thought provoking, wondersome and a true depiction of brilliant stagecraft.

LIFE OF PI runs at The Lowry, Salford, until 6 July 2024.