National Theatre Live: Life of Pi – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

In the week that ‘Standing at the Sky’s Edge’ deservedly won the Olivier award for Best New Musical, another show that started life at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, then went on to win Olivier’s galore and wow the West End and Broadway. premiered on the National Theatre’s streaming service. If ‘Edge’ has half the success that this beautiful metaphorical production has so far achieved, the producers will be well rewarded for their risk.

Based on the best selling novel by Yann Martel and adapted for the stage by Lolita Chakrabati, ‘Life Of Pi’ tells the extraordinary story of 17 year old Piscine Molitor (Hiran Abeysekera) and his survival for 227 days in the Pacific Ocean, after a shipwreck which killed his entire family and everyone on board. Following his rescue, he is questioned as to how he managed this unlikely feat, the story forms the basis for this extraordinary fable blending metaphor and magicality into a spellbinding narrative.

The human performances in the production are uniformly excellent, with Abeysekera demonstrating an award winning turn as Pi, the cameras of the filmed production allow his every facial nuance to be examined up close as he switches between humorous disdain for the questions and sheer terror at reliving his ordeal. Well supported by a small cast doubling up in a number of roles and adding to the sense of mystery and confusion as to the real truth of his story, with Mina Anwar (recently seen at Bolton Octagon in Spring & Port Wine) particularly noteworthy in the role of Ma and Habib Nasib Nader as Cook/Richard Parker also taking the eye.

However, for once, the undoubted stars of the show are to be found in the technical categories with the lighting, set, choreography and above all puppetry taking well deserved plaudits during the 2022 award season. Tim Hatley and Tim Lutkin together with Director Max Webster create nothing short of a visual wonder, turning the small thrust stage of Wyndham’s Theatre into the vast Pacific with lighting projection and an entire boat rising and falling from within the stage. Populating this wondrous set, the puppets of Finn Caldwell portray each animal in the most delicate detail, from the scurrying rat and ponderous turtle through to the magnificent terror of Richard Parker, the eight foot Bengal Tiger with whom Pi shares his odyssey. It is truly breathtaking to behold and although film can never truly replicate live performance, this version gives a different perspective than one would get when attending, differing angles and close ups adding to elements of the spectacle.

Word is obviously getting around as Altrincham Garrick Playhouse had an excellent audience for their screening and future offerings include ‘Good’ and ‘Best of Enemies’ being presented directly from West End theatres over the next couple of months. It’s just a short 10 minute walk to the local Met, or if you are driving then on-site parking is both free and plentiful. Add in a comfortable (and reasonably priced) bar for a passionate post show discussion (the coffee from Manchester’s own Spice & Grind is highly recommended) with friendly and knowledgeable staff, and we have all the makings of a partnership that looks set to run successfully for a long time.

It was certainly worthwhile this evening, with this filmed version providing a beautiful piece of art on its own merits, as well as an incentive to book tickets for the ‘Life of Pi’ UK Tour which will land at The Lowry at the end of the year. Only seeing it live will beat this, I’ll be booking tickets first thing tomorrow and you want something magical and breathtaking for Christmas 2023, then I suggest you do the same.

Reviewer: Paul Wilcox

Reviewed: 4th April 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★