We’ve read about Richard Parker in Yann Martel’s Man Booker Prize-winning 2001 novel Life of Pi, or seen him in CG-animated form in Ang Lee’s 2012 Oscar-grabbing film version. For those unaware, or those who wish to refresh their memory, Richard Parker is the name mistakenly given to the Bengal tiger that is the origin of the story.
For the past five years, this ferocious beast has been taken over by a group of puppeteers in the stage version of Life of Pi, which, after debuting in Sheffield, UK in 2019, completed its West End run last year. Adapted by Lolita Chakraborty and directed by Max Webster, the production now comes to India, and is being staged at Mumbai’s Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center (NMACC) till December 22.
Along with the tiger, the other attraction is 16-year-old protagonist Pisin Molitor ‘P’ Patel. Interestingly, the two actors will be playing the lead roles in different shows. While this reviewer saw Malaysia-born, Singapore-raised Divesh Subaskaran perform to perfection in the premiere, US-raised Sonya Venugopal played the role in a few shows. This isn’t the first time an actress is playing the boy’s role – last year, Chennai-raised, UK-based Advitha Arumugham played the role!
The play begins with Pai (Divesh) in the hospital as the authorities try to find out how he survived a plane crash. “My story will make you believe in God,” he declares, before he recalls his youthful days, when he visited his family’s zoo in Pondicherry with zebras, a hyena, an orangutan and, of course, tigers. Had grown up. , Pai practices three religions – Hinduism, Islam and Christianity – and his parents, sister Rani and an uncle complete the family. There were some interesting conversations between family members, in which her father declared, “Man is the most dangerous animal in the zoo.”
Apart from the puppetry designed by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, what is easily noticeable in the early stages is the contrasting use of color schemes. The hospital environment is grey, and a variety of bright colors dominate the zoo scenes. With amazing projection mapping and distinct background music textures, the viewer is immediately convinced that in terms of sheer production, Life of Pi is a class apart.
The story alternates between Pi’s revelations in the hospital and actual enactments of what happened in the past. The drama is set in the late 1970s. Frustrated with government policies, the family decided to move to Canada. A fierce storm changes their fortunes, and after a shipwreck, Pi loses his family, and finds himself on a boat in the Pacific Ocean with animals.
The story then tells how Pi spent 227 days in the company of Richard Parker while the hyena kills zebras and orangutans and is then killed by a tiger. Pi has built a small raft to keep the tiger at bay, and although he initially wants his companion to die of starvation, he eventually realizes he has no choice. A vegetarian, hungry Pi eats turtle meat as a last resort. Time changes are easily controlled, moving between past and present.
Broadly two types of people will watch this show. One may have read the book or seen the film, and are, therefore, familiar with the story. The second will involve people encountering Pi and Richard Parker for the first time. For the former, not everything is predictable, as some dramatic turns come as surprises.
technical skills
Whether one is familiar with the plot or not, the play is worth enjoying because of its technical proficiency. The depiction of a storm, a rotating boat and the lapping of waves on a beach make Life of Pi a stunning visual and experiential spectacle. And there’s the puppet. Actually three puppets appear to be attached to the tiger – one inside its body, one handling its head and one handling its movements from behind.
While Ang Lee’s film starred Sooraj Sharma, the initial 2019 stage show featured Sri Lankan actor Hiran Abeysekara as Pai. Divesh has been associated with the play since its UK and Ireland tour last year. What is noteworthy is that this is not only his stage debut, but also his first job after college. Sonya has been involved in musical theater and has acted in the film Little Boxes.
Created by Simon Friend, the show has won numerous awards, including five Oliviers and three Tonys. However, this is not the first stage adaptation, as Keith Robinson directed a version in 2003. The new avatar includes big names. Director Max Webster is well known in British theatre, specializing in Shakespearean plays, opera and live concerts. Lolita Chakraborty, who has adapted life of piHas acted in several television series and plays, as well as writing dramatic works Red Velvet, Invisible City and Hymns.
published – December 14, 2024 02:46 PM IST
