Life Of Pi,
Theatre Severn,
7th May- 11th May
So the book of the noughties, Life of Pi, not only became an award winning film but now also a play. How do the company deal with the brief, transpose from page to stage? It was with interest that the packed auditorium all waiting for something that they couldn’t imagine. If words were money, I would just write a few superlatives because one can sum it up thusly. Stupendous, breathtakingly superb, beyond the imaginations of most folk, stunning and devastatingly spectacular.
A dark narrative of a child, Piscine, who whilst moving with his parents and the contents of their zoo, from a riot torn India . A shipping disaster befalls them and Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat with an Orangutang, a dying Zebra and Hyena and eventually a very stern Bengal Tiger, Richard Parker.
Written as an allegory one gets the feeling that this more of a theological debate as opposed to a dire situation. Pi was tested and became aware from the journey, which only she and Richard Parker survive, of who she was and what life can be.
Were the animals the survivors of the disaster? One may never know but Pi has chance over two hundred days at sea, to assess who she is and where does she fit in the tapestry of life that is pitted with dangers and evil temptations.
The set was wonderful; it needed to be a street of churches, a ship, a zoo, and the hold of a ship where the animals are loaded too. One felt quite emotional as they said goodbye and sailed of for new chances and a new life in Canada.
The genius of the designer and the scenery crew and the puppeteers all went towards making this one of the greatest spectacles to ever appear on the boards of our much beloved theatre Severn. Just incredible this is top drawer stuff, and the sort of show once seen never forgotten.
As a student of semiotics I wondered why they changed Pi’s gender, I didn’t matter, but one hopes it wasn’t for the “right on” vote. A young boy can be just as effective as the actual author believed. No need for the change and it left me questioning that directorial decision for some time.
Script wise there was a lace script so beautifully crafted that one was aghast at the use of language and the importance of intonation and meaning.
A few lines of their own. The Puppeteers that worked these beautiful animals so effectively need to know that for this reviewer sinew to ever tightening sinews, I saw the puppeteers combine their bodies with their puppets bringing a beautiful life of innocence and freedom. But animals beautiful or not are all in the food chain in that situation and the death of the Turtle was indeed, a sad affair.
This is hot, hot, ticket, theatre working as it should, the magic of theatre and the clever deceptions make this one of the greatest shows to come our way for some time. Even though its an hour or so after the event now this is reviewer is still unpacking all she’s seen; it was simply amazing. Never before have I been so happy to award my top five star award for this wonderful and magic piece of theatre.
This is a Five Star Review
Sofia Lewis
Sofia is a successful playwright living in Shrewsbury. After graduating from Wolverhampton University in theatre. Sofia went on to become an actor and film maker. Her first play was published in 2015 and her plays have been seen all around the world. She is also the instigator of the popular concerts, The Sound Of Shrewsbury Folk. She has been writing with loveshrewsbury for 13 years and loves Theatre Severn and all she sees there.
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