Broadway: Water for Elephants

At Water for Elephants, you choose the circus, always.

In the new stage adaptation of Sara Guren’s 2006 novel of the same name, Water for Elephants comes to life with a book by Rick Elice and music and lyrics by PigPen Theatre Co. The musical follows Jacob Jankowski through present and past timelines and, in an attempt to escape terrible tragedy, his accidental mishap into the traveling circus. Along the way, he falls for the enchanting Marlena, the star performer of the circus troupe. Though Marlena (Isabelle McCalla) has a soft spot for Jacob, she is loyal to her marriage to August (Paul Alexander Nolan), the uptight ringleader of the troupe. Jacob and Marlena fall deeper into their bond as they are tasked with training Rosie, a stubborn circus elephant. Through their time working with Rosie, Marlena and Jacob discover a different kind of connection — a flame that August desperately wants to stamp out.

Water for Elephants wonderfully draws audiences into the world of the circus troupe with set pieces, choreography, and puppeteering that make this fictional world feel tangible. It does excellent work bringing circus tricks and acrobatics into the Broadway space, highlighting various skills not typical in the modern musical. A highlight of this piece is seeing the circus talent and watching the performers exercise their talents before the audience.

The choreography and puppeteering are among the musical’s most delightful aspects. From choreography that mimics the movements of the circus animals to using choreography and movement to charge scenes with emotion, Water for Elephants uses movement beautifully in its storytelling. Watching the ensemble use minimalistic puppets to play the larger circus animals was a fascinating choice for the production and a delightful one at that.

Grant Gustin (Jacob Jankowski) fearlessly leads the company as its ambitious protagonist. While this is Gustin’s Broadway Debut, he steps seamlessly into the company, expertly navigating the choreography and heart needed to bring Jacob to life. His on-stage chemistry with the rest of the cast is flawless, making Jacob feel tangible to the audience. And, of course, Gustin steals hearts with “Silver Stars” and his heartwarming duet with McCalla, “Wild.”

Juxtaposed with Gustin, Gregg Edelman plays Mr. Jankowski, or Jacob in the present timeline. Mr. Jankowski is the musical’s narrator, telling the story of how Jacob Jankowski joined the circus through the lens of Jacob when he was older and had put his years with the circus behind him—or so he thought. Edelman ties the production together, bringing his gentle demeanor as a duality to Gustin’s fiery Jacob. Showing the dual timeline is an interesting narrative framing that allows the audience to adjust their own lens on the story.

McCalla soars as Marlena, who carries the heart of the story. Marlena is gentle and kind, and she and Jacob connect through her compassion for animals. The audience meets Marlena as she grapples with potentially losing her circus horse companion. She makes a breathtaking entrance with “Easy,” as her haunting vocals fill the theater as majestic puppetry comes and acrobats come to life. McCalla is joyful and earnest and easily captures the audience like she captures Jacob’s heart. Her voice is incredible, and her solos and duets in the production capture her range of emotion and talent.

The production’s downfall is in the music, which is not memorable to the average theatergoer. The score doesn’t have a standout number that exemplifies the production’s identity or is an earworm for the Broadway fan. While it had potential, it was a disappointing aspect of the production, which has such beautiful visual storytelling. However, this is a difficult problem for a production that opened during Broadway’s most packed season to date.

Still, Water for Elephants took a chance at something different during an era of musical theatre that uses smaller, minimalistic sets and casts. This is a big musical with a big ensemble and a range of talents. It is an enjoyable night at the theatre and will surely find its niche audience as it tours the country.