By Shari Barrett
Center Theatre Group is presenting Lolita Chakrabarti’s dazzling stage adaptation of Life of Pi, a Tony Award-winning theatrical experience that has wowed audiences around the globe with jaw-dropping visuals, world class puppetry, and exquisite stagecraft. Based on Yann Martel’s best-selling novel, the touring company production continues at the Ahmanson Theatre through Sunday, June 1 and then moves into the Segerstrom Center for the Arts from Tuesday, June 3 to Sunday, June 15, 2025.
Martel’s extraordinary story of family, resilience, and survival at sea is told by sixteen-year-old Pi to two investigators questioning him about the sinking of the Japanese cargo ship in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, from which Pi is the only human survivor. First describing his life growing up in India and Mexico, Life of Pi centers on his experience at sea on a lifeboat with four animal survivors – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger named Richard Parker – all of whom were on their way to their new home and zoo to be run by Pi’s family. But with his father, mother, and sister at the bottom of the sea, Pi must learn to survive using his wits to remember his father’s lesson of survival of the fittest, either as the one to eat or be eaten. But once left aboard with just the large and wild tiger, Pi has his work cut out for him, especially after his minimal provisions run out.
Astounding life-size puppets designed by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell (who directs the puppetry and movement) include Richard Parker, animated by three puppeteers at any given time as the show’s striped jewel, chuffing, growling, and panting as he stalks Pi from the boat perimeter. But while the puppetry is astoundingly mesmerizing, it’s the tour-de-force performance of Taha Mandviwala as Pi, who performed the role on Broadway and during its first national tour, that will astound you with his unbelievable physical agility dominating every scene – and he never leaves the stage during the more than two-hour performance! Mandviwala’s performance will amaze and dazzle every audience member given his overwhelming and believable interaction with all the animals, especially Richard Parker who first fancies Pi as a most welcome snack.
Superlative tech credits include extraordinary video and animation design by Andrzej Goulding, lighting design by Tony Award winner Tim Lutkin and Tim Deiling, and sound design by Tony Award-winner Carolyn Downing which effectively create the totally believable ocean storm that rocked the boat for 227 days. My advice is to sit in the first few rows of the mezzanine to really appreciate the effects.
Supported by a dynamic 22-member ensemble who perform both human and animal roles, Life of Pi was originally directed by Max Webster, with the tour directed by Ashley Brooke Monroe, Set and Costume Design by Olivier and Tony Award winner Tim Hatley, Puppet Design by Olivier Award winners Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, with Puppetry and Movement Direction by Caldwell, supported by the Global Associate Puppetry and Movement Direction of Scarlet Wilderink, with US Associate Puppetry and Movement Direction by Jon Hoche, with US Assistant Puppetry and Movement Direction by Betsy Rosen.
There are two consecutive not-to-be-missed local engagements of Life of Pi at Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles 90012 through Sunday, June 1 with tickets starting at $40.25 available online at CenterTheatreGroup.org, by phone at (213) 628-2772, or at the Ahmanson box office. The production then moves into the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa 92626 from Tuesday, June 3 to Sunday, June 15. Tickets start at $44.07, available online at SCFTA.org, by phone at (714) 556-2787, or at the Segerstrom box office. For upcoming tour dates and tickets, visit https://lifeofpibway.com/tour-schedule/
Theaters Around Our Westside Town – Please support our local theaters!
44: The Obama Musical at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90230. Wed-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sat/Sun 2pm through June 22. (213) 628-2772 https://44theobamamusical.com/tickets Photo credit: Bella Marie Adams
Arrest the Clowns on Thursday/Friday/Saturday at 8 p.m. through June 14 and Commedia Palooza at 8pm on Wednesdays May 28 and June 25 at The Actors’ Gang, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City 90232. Adults only. (310) 838-4264 https://theactorsgang.com/events
Variety Night open to all on the last Monday of each month from 7-9 p.m. by ArtsUP! LA at The Blue Door, 9617 Venice Blvd., Culver City 90232 (310) 902-8220 https://www.bluedoorculver.com/
Fostered on Thursday/Friday/Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. through June 15 at Pacific Resident Theatre, 703 Venice Blvd, Venice 90291 (310) 822-8293 https://pacificresidenttheatre.org/fostered/
Urinetown the Musical by Kentwood Players at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., LA 90045. Friday/Saturday 8 p.m., Saturday/Sunday 2 p.m. through June 9. (310) 645-5156 https://kentwoodplayers.org
Jest a Second! by Theatre Palisades as a guest production at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., LA 90045 on Thursday/Friday/Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., June 12-21 (310) 454-1970 https://theatrepalisades.org/
Disney The Little Mermaid Jr. by the YES program on Saturday/Sunday at 11 a.m. and The L.A. Chapters New Plays Festival on Fri/Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2pm at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica 90405 (310) 828-7519 https://www.morgan-wixson.org/
Monica Piper’s Not That Jewish on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. through May 31 at The Braid, 3435 Ocean Park Blvd, #107-85, Santa Monica 90405 and For the Love of Animals, a touring salon production through June 22. Location details and tickets at (310) 263-8277 https://the-braid.org/
RGT Party Nite on Saturday, May 17 at 6 p.m. to say goodbye to The Ruskin Group location at 3000 Airport Blvd., Santa Monica 90405. The new, two-theater Ruskin Group Theatre Arts Center will be opening soon! (310) 397-3244 https://www.ruskingrouptheatre.com/
Love’s End, Lear Redux, and Way of the Peaceful Warrior at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., LA 90025. Info and tickets at (310) 477-2055 ext. 2 https://odysseytheatre.com/
Please check websites for nearby productions at The Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, and Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills.
