Life of Pi is an the epic tale of adventure. This Tony Award® and Olivier Award-winning hit is “an exhilarating evening of theater” (The Wall Street Journal) and “gives new life to Broadway” (The Today Show). After a shipwreck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi survives on a lifeboat with four companions— a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger. A truly remarkable story unfolds of hope, faith, and perseverance that speaks to every generation. Told through incomparable puppetry and exquisite stagecraft, Life of Pi creates a visually breathtaking journey that will leave you filled with awe and joy.
The Life of Pi production at the Hippodrome is a triumph. While the story stretches credulity, the craftsmanship is outstanding. Max Webster’s direction, clearly informed by his background in Shakespeare and opera, gives the play an impressive scope. The tight pacing and inventive use of set pieces—from the complexity of a sinking ship to the simplicity of rippling paper evoking the sea—are focused and effective. Audiences often underestimate the director’s vision, but Webster expertly draws out the intended emotional responses in every scene.
The production is spellbinding. Notable performances include Pi’s Father (Sorab Wadia) who deftly communicates the weariness and concern driving him to protect his family from danger, and the Cook (Ben Durocher) who exudes cruelty and eventually, inhuman savagery. The demanding Mr. Okamoto (Alan Ariano) who is investigating the shipwreck and Lulu Chen (Mi Kang), an empathetic Canadian diplomat maintain a precarious equilibrium as Pi recounts his fantastical tale. Finally, Savidu Geevaratne portrays a curious and enthusiastic Pi whose grace and athleticism interact seamlessly with the magnificent puppeteers breathing life into the zoo animals.
2021 | West End |
Original West End Production West End |
2023 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2024 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
Videos