ART Production

Saw this at the ART on opening night. The physical production is astonishing. The script is okay, but perhaps too much on the nose and with a clumsy framing device. Biggest problem is that the performers are, by and large, only adequate, with a tendency to declaim line after line with the same affects. Right now, they don't give the play the extra shot it needs to make it memorable for something more than  technically remarkable staging.

Updated On: 12/17/22 at 01:51 PM

The production at the American Repertory Theater in Boston, which is pre-Broadway. This is the London staging but with a different cast.

Updated On: 12/17/22 at 02:20 PM

Watched the show today (matinee).  Definitely the most complex staging I have ever seen at ART, though hopefully Broadway will be even more elaborate (storm effects especially, I would expect more on Broadway).  Seemed less than the West End stage rig by pictures.  But amazing.

Understudy for Pi, Uma Paranjpe.  Can't say I've ever seen a main character swapped male for female between shows.  It worked, she was very good, wish I knew how she compared to Adi Dixit.

Puppets were great.  Just like War Horse, you forget about the puppeteers after a while.

An annoyance: digital program only and the site was crashed.  My son saw 10+ people tryiing to access unsuccessfully.  Wasn't working at intermission either.  No easy access to wifi.  No substitute for a real Playbill for the memory box.  And masks still mandatory!!

Will be successful on Broadway.  Will be successful on tour.  Really checks all the boxes, I'm sure I'll see it again on tour in 2-3 years.

Fosse76 said:  Playbills are magazines, whose primary purpose is to sell ad space. Playbills are meaningless."

"Playbills are meaningless" is arguably one of the wildest takes I've read on this board.

I'm still bummed that ART's method of going paperless didn't allow me to have a Playbill for Wild, as I (and countless others) like to keep their Playbills as souvenirs.

I agree with the concept of reducing paper waste, but I would like the option: to have digital be the default, with printed copies available on request.

LateMan said: "Saw this at the ART on opening night. The physical production is astonishing. The script is okay, but perhaps too much on the nose and with a clumsy framing device. Biggest problem is that the performers are, by and large, only adequate, with a tendency to declaim line after line with the same affects. Right now, they don't give the play the extra shot it needs to make it memorable for something more than technically remarkable staging."

Pretty much agree with your assessment, in addition to a framing device that is poorly executed, other non-boat scenes never gel dramatically or thematically - amateurish acting (don't know if cast changes in NY) but, oh that physical production - just incredible, deserving of all the praise and I'm sure it will be even more impressive on the NY stage. Having been a fan of the book and the movie, just wish the play rose to the same heights and brilliance of the stage design, music, puppetry, lighting etc. 

Oh yeah, clearly some people in the audience were NOT familiar with the book or movie. I assume they saw puppetry was involved so thought this was Lion King-- and brought young children. Don't do that. - the play will go over their heads and possibly scare them. If you do bring them and they are unhappy, crying, talking please leave the theater so their displeasure does not distract others from the show. 

Saw the show with the female understudy.  I think the story works better with a female as Pi.  Much more powerful with the survivor as a female.