Ken Abrams

Great theater can take you away for a couple of hours, immersing you in a story as your connection to the narrative deepens. Life of Pi, playing at the Providence Performing Arts Center through Sunday, February 16, does just that. It’s a powerful, captivating, and unforgettable tale, filled with fascinating characters, both human and animal.

There were no real weaknesses in the production, although some of the popular songs felt a bit forced at times, a bit perfunctory, while more introspective tunes like “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” a duet with Fradiani and Kohn, shined bright. The narrative structure of the story presents the songs in context – Who else could write a singalong blues song (“Song Sung Blue”) that just makes you want to smile? The show stands out as one the stronger productions in the recent flurry of jukebox musicals, bio-musicals of artists and bands, a genre that schools new fans and brings boomer memories back as their real-life icons slowly fade into history. Don’t miss it!