Broadway’s “Life of Pi” is colorful, brutally beautiful
A scene of Pi and Richard Parker, the tiger, in the Broadway tour of “Life of Pi” at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.
Courtesy Broadway at the Hobby Center
Score: ★★★★★
Fueled by vibrant colors, energetic voices and beautiful contrasts, the seamless ambiance of the Broadway tour of “Life of Pi” engulfed the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, taking Houstonians into Pi’s vivacious world.
If you have not yet read the original book by Yann Martel, do not fret: I had not read it either, and as of 7:35 p.m. on Aug. 19 — exactly five minutes into the performance — I had decided that I must. The story follows Pi’s journey from his family’s zoo in India to a hospital in Mexico and all the connections he makes along the way. When the cargo ship that he, his family and all of their zoo’s inhabitants are travelling on is caught in a major shipwreck, Pi is stranded at sea for 227 days completely alone — except for Richard Parker, a Bengal Tiger. The play opens in an empty hospital room, where Pi is questioned as to how he survived for almost an entire year stranded with one of the most dangerous creatures on Earth. The exposition and transition between the past and present tense as he began to tell his story felt fluid and cohesive, drawing the viewer in with every line spoken.
Every movement and place flowed into one another, beautifully crafting the stark contrast between the excitement of the Indian zoo and the coldness of the Mexican hospital — until there was an announcement that the show would be holding. Everyone in the audience felt dread and curiosity about why the story had been interrupted. About nine minutes later, a new Pi entered the stage. Energetic and thoughtful, Savidu Geevaratne brought an energy to Pi that deepened his connection with both the audience and his fellow actors.
While Taha Mandviwala had to call out because of his well-being, I am happy that I got to see him for the 20 minutes I did. Within that time, he created a beautiful character; he had a songbird-like voice while in India and crisp diction within the hospital. His exit was seamless and professional, and Geevaratne took his spot gracefully and with humility. In an interview with the Thresher, Geevaratne said that he “was honestly so proud of [their] team for getting ready so quickly but then [he needed] to focus and bring [his] heart rate down because too much energy is also bad.”
Looking at the show itself, my eyes were wide when the curtain came down for intermission. The play’s original Broadway run won Tony Awards for its lighting, sound and scenic design in 2023, and I will still be raving about all three.
The sound design and playback brought the audience into Pi’s world. The use of fading techniques to blend different sounds together transformed one space into another seamlessly, creating an immersive atmosphere.
The lighting added wondrous colors, and the spotlights on the sides of the stage created a bubble around Pi’s memories. When he first began to tell his story, the bubble showed that his Indian memories were a safe space. As he progressed, the bubble began to widen as he let us deeper into his thoughts and experiences. There were also moments of organized chaos, like during the shipwreck, but the audience knew exactly where to look as the lighting guided our attention.
The set was also very detailed, much like the rest of the technical design. It worked well with other elements and created a base for the projects and puppetry to shine.
Taking a look at the overall design of the show, everything created a beautiful cohesion. Through their commendable teamwork, the play’s crew managed to take a wooden floor and turn it into a raging ocean by using fog, sound and a whole lot of theater magic. The animals were also a testament to the magic of theater: through a mix of puppetry, projection and color, they felt as though you could reach out and pet them — or get bitten.
“Life of Pi” brought to life the story and journey of a young boy, but also voiced many people’s questions about God and the universe in a thoughtful way. From the technical design to the crew members’ execution and the intentionality of the actors, “Life of Pi” brought something new to the Hobby Center. My only note is that they should have stayed here longer — I definitely would have seen it again.
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