Life of Pi – A Puppet Powered Fable at the Ahmanson

The stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi now playing at the Ahmanson Theatre offers a blend of storytelling and spectacle. Adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti from Yann Martel’s 2001 novel, which inspired the 2012 film, and directed by Max Webster, this production brings to life the tale of Pi Patel (Taha Mandviwala) a 16-year-old boy stranded at sea with a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. The traumatic journey begins in Pi’s hometown of Pondicherry with his mother (Jessica Angleskhan), zookeeper father (Sorab Wadia) and sister (Sharayu Mahale), then to a doomed cargo ship heading for Canada, lifeboat, island and finally to the coast of Mexico.

The production's standout feature is its creative puppetry. Designed by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, life-size puppets of a hyena, zebra, turtle, orangutan, and the tiger Richard Parker are operated by puppeteers that fade into the background. Eight human puppeteers in altering duties bring the tiger to life with prowls, leaps, purrs and growls. There are also large groups of fish and butterfly puppets throughout the performance.

Complementing the puppetry are the stunning visual effects, especially for the sea and boat scenes. Lighting by Tim Lutkin, projections by Andrzej Goulding, and sound design by Carolyn Downing work in harmony to evoke the vastness and danger of the Pacific Ocean.

After Pi is rescued on a beach in Mexico after 227 days at sea, he is interviewed by officials from the Japanese Ministry of Transport and Canadian Embassy. They interview him, trying to figure out what happened to cause the sinking of the boat and the death of those on board. Pi tells his story of being stranded on the lifeboat with the animals, then offers an alternative version with a French cook, Taiwanese sailor and Pi’s mother. Similarities are drawn between Pi and the tiger, the hyena and the cook, Pi’s mother and the orangutan and the sailor and the zebra. Pi tells the investigators that neither story reveals the cause of the shipwreck and asks which story they prefer. For audiences, the play evokes questions of truth, religion and spirituality.

Life of Pi has won three Tony Awards (Best Scenic Design of a Play Best Lighting Design of a Play, and Best Sound Design of a Play), four Drama Desk Awards (Outstanding Direction of a Play, Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play, Outstanding Projection and Video Design, and Outstanding Puppetry) and two Outer Critics Circle Awards (Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play or Musical and Outstanding Video or Projection Design of a Play or Musical).

• Location: Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
• Dates: May 6 – June 1, 2025, Performances Tuesdays through Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm, Sundays at 1pm and 6:30pm
• Runtime: 2 hours and 10 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission
• Tickets: Prices start $40.25, at https://www.centertheatregroup.org.