Spectacle and Heart: Water for Elephants Gallops onto Broadway
The lights dim and a hush falls over the audience. A whistle blows and a train chugs across the stage. We are transported back to the 1930s and into the world of the Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show on Earth. The much-anticipated Broadway musical Water for Elephants has arrived, adapted from Sara Gruen’s bestselling novel. It’s a world of glamour and grit, romance and deception. At its heart is a coming-of-age story.
All Aboard the Spectacle Express
Water for Elephants is the creation of some of Broadway’s most talented makers. Tony-nominated director Jessica Stone keeps the action moving seamlessly. The set design by David Rockwell transports us from the grounds of a traveling circus to a speeding train. Choreographer Christopher Gattelli’s dance numbers are dazzling, performed by a cast of acrobats and aerialists.
But the true spectacle is the animals. Designer Basil Twist’s larger-than-life puppets bring elephants, horses, dogs, and more to life on stage. The puppeteers make them breathe, walk, and interact with the cast. It’s a magnificent illusion that elicits gasps of delight from the audience.
The period music and costumes round out the feast for the senses. As the train whistles blow, we are ready to be taken along for the ride.
An Ordinary Man Thrown Into Extraordinary Circumstances
We meet Jacob Jankowski, brought to earnest life by Hugh Jackman. Jacob is just an ordinary young man until his world is turned upside down. After a family tragedy, he impulsively jumps aboard a passing circus train.
On board, he meets a rough-and-tumble community of performers and working men living on the fringes of society. The circus owner, Uncle Al (Nathan Lane), rules with an iron fist. His wife, Marlena (Anne Hathaway), is the star attraction but is also trapped in an abusive marriage.
Despite Jacob’s lack of experience, he finds his calling as a circus veterinarian. He cares deeply for the animals, who suffer under Al’s merciless leadership.
Over time, Jacob and Marlena develop a cautious friendship that blossoms into a secret romance. They see in each other a way out of their circumstances.
The Choices We Make
Water for Elephants has officially hit the road to Broadway stardom. It’s a musical spectacle like no other. With incredible puppetry and stagecraft, it transports the audience to the Depression-era world of the circus. We bear witness to complex characters who are beaten down by life yet continue to hope.
Jacob and Marlena cling to their love despite impossible odds. Their choices shape their future and who they become. Even Uncle Al is more than just a villainous showman.
The story causes us to reflect on times when we’ve faced crossroads. When all seems lost, do we give up or pull together and keep going? Water for Elephants celebrates the human spirit’s ability to endure.
A Story That Resonates
Water for Elephants is a production only Broadway could deliver. The puppetry pioneered by Basil Twist has never been achieved on this scale before.
Yet the creative spectacle always comes back to the heart. We care about Jacob, Marlena, and their Circus family. The Majestic Theatre fades away and we become part of their story.
Director Jessica Stone keeps the action fluid and energetic. The book by Rick Elice and the score by PigPen Theatre Co. lift emotion to the surface. We are whisked through hilarity, joy, cruelty, and romance.
This tale of compassion and perseverance resonates long after the curtain closes. Sara Gruen’s story has found its perfect match in the theater. Water for Elephants on Broadway is an ovation-worthy ride.
