Based on Yann Martel’s novel and adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti, Life of Pi—presented by Encore at the Aronoff Center—is a breathtaking theatrical experience. Whether or not you’re familiar with the book or the Oscar-winning film, this production is a must-see.
The Story
At its core, Life of Pi is a tale of survival through the eyes of Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel (played by the remarkable Taha Mandviwala, from Kentucky), who endures 227 days at sea after a shipwreck kills his family on their journey to a new life. Pi is castaway to a small lifeboat, which he is forced to share with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, brought to life by a team of talented puppeteers (Ben Durocher, Shiloh Goodin, Anna Leigh Gortner, Austin Wong Harper, Aaron Haskell, Toussaint Jeanlouis, Betsy Rosen, and Anna Vomacka).
Themes of The Life of Pi
What makes Life of Pi so compelling is its exploration of belief. Pi, a curious and spiritual young man, presents his journey in a way that blends reality with wonder, leaving audiences to interpret what is real. Much like religious texts—whether the Bible, Dhammapada, Torah, or Quran—the play invites viewers to choose their own perspectives rooted in their worldviews and beliefs.
As the performance unfolds, audience members may experience entirely different narratives – sitting shoulder to shoulder with patrons consuming a different story. On the left, an atheist, at the end of their imaginative journey filled with skepticism and ration – a person who may see a raw survival story of eat-or-be-eaten logic. While, on the right, a person filled with hope, allowing the boy to defy logic and reason and accepts the story as a miraculous tale of faith and perseverance.
Truth, as Pi suggests, is how we choose to understand it–though a balance of reason and faith. This theme feels extremely important in today’s political climate where rigid worldviews are pushing us further apart. Few performances have the power to truly unit audiences, and Life of Pi has the potential to be one of them. (In looking around the February 4th opening night performance, just glancing at the patrons behind me, I saw four priests sitting directly in front of a rabbi – an interesting blending of faiths).
“The world isn’t just the way it is. It is how we understand it, no? And in understanding something, we bring something to it, no?” – Pi
Performances
Mandviwala delivers an extraordinary performance, never leaving the stage and carrying the emotional weight of the story with precision and heart. His chemistry with the actors portraying his family (who were all outstanding themselves) —Sorab Wadia (Father), Jessica Angleskhan (Amma), and Sharayu Mahale (Rani)—is palpable, particularly with his mother, who serves as Pi’s guiding light, beyond his faith, even in the darkest moments.
Mesmerizing Puppetry and Design
The production’s design is nothing short of mesmerizing. Scenic and costume designer Tim Hatley, lighting designers Tim Lutkin & Tim Deiling, and sound designer Carolyn Downing create a world so vivid that it transports the audience from a 1976 war-torn Pondicherry to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The scenes were so powerful that it instantly bound you to Pi, his family, and the beautiful life they lived in India.
The puppetry, crafted by Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell and choreographed by Scarlet Wilderink, is nothing short of art in motion—each animal exudes its own personality, making them feel undeniably real. As previously mentioned, a team of incredibly talented and strong performers run the puppets. I hope feel the credit they deserve.
Overall
More than just a survival story, Life of Pi challenges us to reconsider what we accept as truth. At the play’s conclusion, Pi recounts his ordeal to a skeptical investigator, offering a more logical version of events before asking, “Which story do you prefer?”
That simple question lingers, prompting us to reflect on how we construct our own realities. Life of Pi doesn’t end with a grand epiphany but rather leaves the audience with deep questions and lasting impressions. It’s a masterful, thought-provoking journey worth experiencing.
Tickets to Life of Pi
See Life of Pi now through February 9th at the Aronoff Center. Get tickets at the official source HERE.
AGES: The performance may not be suitable for viewers under 13.
RUN TIME: 2 hours, 10 minutes including intermission
