Cover Image by Ellie Kurttz
The “Life of Pi” made its five-night tour stop in Houston at the Hobby Center on Tuesday, Aug. 19. Running until Sunday, Aug. 24, the show is based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martel.
The beauty of “Life of Pi” is that different people can take away different messages within the story. Audiences can find something new every time they see it. It featured beautiful visual effects and magical performances by the ensemble cast.
On opening night, a crowd of all ages gathered, waiting for the front doors on the second floor of the Hobby Center to open. People filled the waiting area buying concessions and taking photos in front of a Life of Pi photo backdrop.
Anchors, Briana Conner of ABC 13 and Shern-Min Chow of KHOU 11, were also in attendance.
After the curtains rose around 7:30 p.m., the show began with Pi in a hospital room being interviewed about the wreckage of the boat he and his family were on and his journey to safety.
In the scene, Pi was a young boy who yearned to learn about God and spirituality but did not subscribe to just one religion. Pi and his family left India on the ship to flee the riots and political turmoil, seeking a better life in Canada.
Leaning into his love of storytelling, Pi recalled his experiences growing up in India.
Pi went on to tell the investigator a dangerous and hard-to-believe story about how he survived 227 days on the high seas in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger.
The end of the play left the crowd having to choose whether Pi’s story was crazy enough to be true or if it was just another story Pi told.
Shortly after the play began, Taha Mandviwala, who was playing Pi had to leave the show for unknown reasons.
Mandviwala’s performance, yet short, was natural and whimsical.
Savidu Geevaratne took over the role for the remainder of the play.
Geevaratne did not miss a beat and gave a lively and impressive performance as Pi. So much so, he received extended applause in one of his many dynamic performances.
The ensemble cast gave spectacular performances, especially Pi’s family. The dynamic between Pi and his family was indicative of a real family. Their chemistry felt real and genuine.
This performance of “Life of Pi” combined musical elements with powerful playwriting to create a theatrical experience that left audience members in awe and laughter. It was a visually stunning, well executed show highlighting messages of storytelling, humanity and spirituality.
“Life of Pi” went deeper than the typical play and successfully left the audience questioning and discussing the show even after it was over.
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