Water for Elephants

 Water for Elephants
Imperial Theatre
April 10, 2024 

Photo courtesy of Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants is an amazing new Broadway musical.  The book, by Rick Elice, is a strong and romantic adaptation of Sara Gruen’s novel.  The music and lyrics by Pigpen Theatre Co. are whimsical and energetic.  The choreography by Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll is truly spectacular.  Director Jessica Stone skillfully weaves all these elements together into one flawless production with a brilliant cast who deliver inspiring performances.

Mr. Jankowski (played by Gregg Edelman) escapes his nursing home to spend an afternoon at the circus.  He lingers as the workers pack up.  Charlie and June (played by Paul Alexander Nolan and Isabelle McCalla) offer to call him a cab.  He begins to tell about his days with the Benzini Brothers Circus.  June asks if he was there for the 1931 stampede, and we are transported back to when a young Jacob Jankowski (played by Grant Gustin) hops a train after both his parents are killed in a car accident.  To his surprise, it is a circus train.  Camel (played by Stan Brown) offers him one day of work for one day of food before he moves on.  Jacob meets Marlena (played by Isabelle McCalla) who is nursing her injured show horse.  Jacob, who was studying to be a vet, give her advice on how to care for the animal, who is suffering more than Marlena realizes.  When Marlena’s husband, August (played by Paul Alexander Nolan), who also runs the circus, sees that Jacob can help with the animals, he offers him a job.  After the horse is put down due to its injury, August needs a new star attraction.  Jacob finds Rosie, an elephant, and August buys her for the circus.  While training Rosie, Marlena and Jacob grow close.  This begins a journey that bonds them, creating turmoil for the Benzini Brothers Circus and all its employees. 

Paul Alexander Nolan, Isabelle McCalla, & Grant Gustin
Photo courtesy of Water for Elephants

The show is brilliantly conceived, bringing the older character, Mr. Jankowski, in and out of the action of the story with his younger version, Jacob.  These two actors, Gregg Edelman and Grant Gustin,  are fully in sync, allowing for this convention of time to flow smoothly.  This is also accomplished with the dual casting of Isabelle McCalla as both Marlena and June, as well as the roles of both August and Charlie played by Paul Alexander Nolan.  These two actors make subtle changes in their physicality as they transition to the different time periods.  This meshing in the storytelling keeps the action moving at a sharp pace, and emotionally connects the audience to the characters. 

Isabelle McCalla & Grant Gustin
Photo courtsy of Water for Elephants

The staging and choreography are phenomenal.  The dancing seamlessly blends with the circus stunts.  The ensemble is breathtaking, achieving amazing feats with the greatest of ease.  There is a lot going on in each scene, keeping the audience fully alert throughout the show.  It is visually stunning and emotionally riveting.  One outstanding highlight is the song “Easy”, where a trapeze artist gracefully and mournfully flies over the audience to portray the suffering of Marlena’s injured horse.  Another is the acrobatic depiction of the “red lighting” of Camel and Walter in Act II.

Water for Elephants is sure to be nominated for numerous Tony Awards this spring.  It is a joyous and entertaining show with a touching story and truthful, amiable characters.  It is a remarkable production!  Get your tickets as soon as you can.  

Domenick Danza