Olivier-winning LIFE OF PI On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 5/11/22 at 2:27pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/LIFE-OF-PI-Will-Make-North-American-Premiere-at-ART-in-December-20220511

American Repertory Theater will produce in its 2022/23 Season the North American premiere of Life of Pi, the acclaimed theatrical adaptation by Lolita Chakrabarti of the best-selling novel by Yann Martel. Max Webster will direct, with Tony Award winner Tim Hartley providing scenic and costume design and Finn Caldwell providing puppetry and movement direction.

Life of Pi is currently playing in London's West End, where last month it won five Olivier Awards, including Best New Play.

Updated On: 3/29/23 at 02:27 PM

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/19/22 at 1:36pm

Announcing the magical company of cast and puppeteers bringing Life of Pi to A.R.T. this holiday season!

Adi Dixit (he/him/his) lead the cast in the title role, and is joined by Brian Thomas Abraham (he/him/his), Usman Ali Ishaq (he/him/his), Rajesh Bose (he/him/his), Nikki Calonge (she/her/hers/siya), Mahnaz Damania (she/her/hers), Fred Davis (he/him/his), Avery Glymph, Mahira Kakkar (she/her/hers), Kirstin Louie (she/her/hers), Rowan Ian Seamus Magee (he/him/his) Jonathan David Martin (he/him/his), Uma Paranjpe (she/her/hers), Betsy Rosen (she/her/hers), Celia Mei Rubin (she/her/hers), Salma Shaw (she/her/hers), David Shih (he/him/his), Sathya Sridharan (he/him/his), Daisuke Tsuji (he/him/his), Sonya Venugopal (she/her/hers), Scarlet Wilderink (she/her/hers), and Andrew Wilson (he/him/his).

Tickets available NOW >>> https://amrep.org/LifeOfPi #LifeOfPi #LifeOfPiART

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/19/22 at 1:51pm

Rumored pre-Broadway tryout and that it will play the Schoenfeld in the Spring.

[binau]

Posted: 10/19/22 at 2:24pm

It's kind of staggering to a close in London and I still haven't seen it - I guess because I saw War Horse and have read the Life of Pi book I'm wondering if it will feel like something new. Would anyone recommend/not recommend?

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/19/22 at 2:29pm

I hadn't read the book but I thought it was the best thing I saw in London during my trip in May (and I saw a lot).  The story is of course wonderful, but I thought the staging especially brought it to life, with the use of puppets but also the transitions between Pi's recollections of his time in the lifeboat and his interview in the hospital.  It actually almost feels graphic at times despite knowing that all the animals are just puppets, but overall it's just a really beautiful piece.  One of my friends that came with me had read the book before and also enjoyed it a lot, though he said there were some minor changes to how the story was framed/structured.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/24/22 at 12:02pm

I think the show is transferring... just a hunch... lol.

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 10/24/22 at 12:36pm

I just read this on Playbill website 

 

“Lolita Chakrabarti (Red Velvet)'s Life of Pi will made its Broadway debut beginning March 9, 2023 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, with opening night set for March 30. ”

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 10/24/22 at 12:39pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/LIFE-OF-PI-Will-Transfer-to-Broadways-Gerald-Schoenfeld-Theatre-in-March-20221024

This seems to have gotten buried. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/24/22 at 12:47pm

Not buried, just on another thread:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1154664

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 9:14am

Complete casting has been announced for the Broadway premiere of Lolita Chakrabarti's Life of Pi, based on the novel by Yann Martel. Performances begin March 9 at the Schoenfeld Theatre, with opening set for March 30. Leading the company will be original West End stars Hiran Abeysekera as Pi and Fred Davis and Scarlet Wilderink, who are among the actors who puppeteer the tiger named Richard Parker. All three won Olivier Awards for their work. Adi Dixit, who starred in the recent American Repertory Theatre production, will serve as the Pi alternate. Joining them will be Mahira Kakkar as Nurse/Amma/Orange Juice, Rajesh Bose as Father, Brian Thomas Abraham as Cook/Voice of Richard Parker, Avery Glymph as Father Martin/Russian Sailor/Rear Admiral Jackson, Kirstin Louie as Lulu Chen, Salma Qarnain as Mrs. Biology Kumar/Zaida Khan, Sathya Sridharan as Mamaji/Pandit-Ji, Daisuke Tsuji as Mr. Okamoto/Captain, and Sonya Venugopal as Rani.

 

https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/olivier-winning-west-end-star-hiran-abeysekera_94856.html

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/5/23 at 8:33pm

Anyone plan on attending the first preview on Thursday?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/8/23 at 12:00am

Piscine Patel’s lifeboat is drifting towards New York.

The new play Life of Pi, based on the bestselling novel and Oscar-winning film, begins previews tomorrow (March 9) at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre; opening night is March 30.

“After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi is left stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors — a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger. Time is against them, nature is harsh, who will survive?”

Who’s climbing aboard?

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/9/23 at 1:33am

Be prepared, if you are in the front orchestra, the stage is very high. 

[yyys]

Posted: 3/9/23 at 7:54am

did they do a rewrite or is the book still  weak?

 

Fosse76 said: "Be prepared, if you are in the front orchestra, the stage is very high."

 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/9/23 at 3:08pm

It seems the same as the published script. 

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 3/9/23 at 4:11pm

Fosse76 said: "Be prepared, if you are in the front orchestra, the stage is very high."

it's to stop the tiger from leaping on the audience

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 3/9/23 at 10:59pm

Wee Thomas2 said: "Fosse76 said: "Be prepared, if you are in the front orchestra, the stage is very high."

it's to stop the tiger from leaping on the audience"

Actually tonight there was a runaway cart that came this close to rolling off the stage and onto the front row! A cast member ran out from the wings to grab it at the last second, definitely prevented some injuries there!

I was just at the first preview and I loved it! The puppeteer work is just so incredibly impressive. I was in awe of the stagecraft on display the whole time.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 9:32am

If they match the West End physical production, then you’re in for a treat. In this age of minimalist Camelots and Sweeneys, a fully immersive and breathtaking marriage of set, lighting, projection and puppetry is a miracle to feast on. If the script doesn’t quite bring you catharsis, well the design elements definitely will. 

[kurtal]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 12:37pm

I saw this in London and remember appreciating the spectacle but being underwhelmed by the writing.  While that hasn't changed overall (saw the show last night...TDF, Mezzanine B26), I found myself more moved than I had been in London.  There are still some plodding points of the plot (especially in the first act), and the dialogue is overly didactic at points.  But the spectacle and stagecraft is still stellar, and I enjoyed the whole as very much greater than the sum of its parts.

And yes, omg, the runaway cart last night!  Definitely some first preview technical issues (dropped bananas, flickering lights, some sound issues), but the show is in good shape overall, and these issues will certainly get worked out.  

Can very comfortably recommend this strong (but imperfect) production.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 12:42pm

Is Richard Parker the new Milky White?

[bradwalt]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 4:05pm

Saw this at A.R.T.

The projections on the stage floor are exceptional but I was sitting too low and too close in the orchestra to get  the full effect.  I would love to see this from the mezz .  However, I think War Horse was a much better show all around.  

[AndreyIsntHere]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 5:04pm

For those who are familiar with the book/movie, how does it hold up as an adaptation? Is it accurate? Better/worse than the other versions?

And as for the ending...

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

How did they do the "two stories" thing at the end?

 

Updated On: 3/10/23 at 05:04 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 11:00pm

I've experienced all three and I'd say the book is endearing, but the film is bad and the play is just awful. I couldn't believe how bad the writing was, they could've gotten away with a non-verbal approach and it would be an improvement.

Beautiful spectacle, dismal book. Even the book for Bombay Dreams was better.

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 7:18am

https://www.tdf.org/shows/19133/Life-of-Pi
 

TDF has Life of Pi with the known lottery AND and in person rush, can anyone confirm or deny this info?

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 10:59am

I saw this shortly before it closed in London. I agree that it was visually breathtaking and that the script is very rough. Also some really dodgy acting from a few people; hopefully it was an off-night.

For me, the worst part

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

was when they spelled out the parallels of the two stories, which gave me the biggest involuntary eye-roll I think I've ever had in a theatre.

 

Honestly though, the visuals are so beautiful and the actor who played Pi was so good that it almost makes up for it. The high points put tears in my eyes and only made the low points even more frustrating.

Updated On: 3/11/23 at 10:59 AM