Review by Rui Pastorin
Admittedly, I am not much of a theatre guy, but when I made the last-minute decision to buy a ticket to watch the fully booked “Life of Pi” on Saturday, the opening performance for this year’s Macao Arts Festival (MAF), I did not regret it.
Marking its East Asian premiere, the play was staged during the MAF’s grand opening on Friday and at the weekend. It is based on Canadian author Yann Martel’s acclaimed best-selling book* of the same name, adapted for the stage by British playwright and actress Lolita Chakrabarti. It has been performed in London’s West End and Broadway, having garnered accolades including five Laurence Olivier Awards and five UK Theatre Awards.
The story follows 17-year-old Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel whose family had to make the choice to leave India, where they own a zoo, as tensions and political unrest arise. Pi’s father opts to move them and the animals to Canada in search of better opportunities by hopping on a cargo ship. However, chaos erupts when the ship gets caught in a storm, leaving Pi the sole survivor. Lost at sea and facing thirst and starvation, Pi also finds himself stuck on a lifeboat with a ferocious Bengal Tiger named “Richard Parker”, along with three other animals, altogether making for a harrowing situation. This makes for a great story about survival, perseverance and endurance, while themes like spirituality and belief can also be found.
This compelling plot is complimented by a dynamic and constantly moving set that incorporates projections and lighting techniques to transport the audience to different settings. From the family zoo full of wild animals to a bustling market in India to the chaos and panic of a ship caught in a storm, each scene was believable and full of activity, becoming more than a captivating show, but an experience.
Meanwhile, the actors, especially Kashif Ghole who plays Pi, delivered stellar performances, giving their best in every scene. And beyond that, puppetry was also a large part of the performance as it was used to bring the various animals to life, with each masterfully operated by talented puppeteers. Richard Parker itself was operated by several of them, working in unity to create fluid and flawless movements. And all of this is in addition to a strong and entertaining story that excelled in its most dramatic and poignant moments, although it could also make the audience laugh, especially during the first part of the show.
Clocking in at two hours and 10 minutes, with a 20-minute interval, the show had me hooked from start to finish. However, while it sits at a decent length, my only critique is that there were a few parts towards the end that felt a little long, but given the story’s calibre, this is only a minor aspect.
The Macau run of the show is over, but if you ever have a chance to see it, don’t hesitate. Even if you are a casual like myself or aren’t into plays or stage performances in particular, I think it is worth experiencing at least once. And had it not been sold out for the following day, I would have seen it twice.
Stay tuned for upcoming 35th MAF shows
Life of Pi was just one of a number of shows to be staged for the 35th Macao Arts Festival. Among them are the Cantonese Opera Concert “Unveiling Harmonious Voices” by the Macao Chinese Orchestra on May 9 at the Broadway Theatre in Cotai, and “Food” by theatre artist Geoff Sobelle at the Macao Cultural Centre (CCM) from May 8 to 10. Popular shows by local groups like Own Theatre’s “Chris-mas Kingdom” clown show and “Raving · Vibration Z” created by local young choreographer Lao Pui Lon are also among the upcoming shows and various other activities, with more information on https://www.icm.gov.mo/fam/35/en/.
*The book was also adapted into an Oscar winning film in 2012. It was directed by award-winning Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee and starred Indian actor Suraj Sharma in the titular role.
The cast of Life of Pi take a bow after Saturday night’s show at the Grand Auditorium of the Macao Cultural Centre (CCM). – Photo: Rui Pastorin
