Water For Elephants

Sara Gruen's novel, Water for Elephants, draws a parallel to James Cameron's Titanic but unfolds on land rather than at sea. At its heart, both are romantic sagas of a young man irresistibly drawn to a woman, only to discover that she is involved with another man. The core plot of Gruen's novel, turned movie into a play, remains the same: it centers on Jacob Jankowski, an elderly man reminiscing about his life as a circus veterinarian who loses his parents in a tragic accident, drops out of veterinary school, leaves town after losing his family home to the bank, and accidentally hops a train belonging to the Benzini Brothers Circus. He falls in love with the beautiful equestrian star, Marlena, who is married to August, a manipulative and clever ringmaster, who is deeply abusive and volatile. The story of an elephant named Rosie follows the circus's decision to euthanize its prize horse, Silver Star, due to an incurable, painful condition called laminitis. Rosie doesn't seem to be trainable until Jacob discovers she only understands commands in Polish.  

If you saw the movie, you will notice that the protagonist, Jacob, who is briefly seen in the movie, has a more prominent role in the musical play. He's used more as a narrator and remains on stage for much of the show. This Broadway musical features impressive puppetry, including a visually stunning elephant and other circus animals brought to life by a talented team of puppeteers. To effectively portray Gruen's vision of the Benzini Brothers Circus on a limited stage, the musical relies heavily on a cast of circus performers, acrobats, and aerialists who showcase high-wire and trapeze acts to enhance the narrative. The performance style is reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil and contrasts with traditional musical theater dancing. The play still includes traditional song-and-dance performers; however, it leans more toward acrobatics.

To me, this method falls short, as it diminishes the romantic essence of Gruen's novel. The musical glosses over Jacob's dramatic, life-altering experiences, such as the loss of his parents and his childhood home, which the bank took away because of a loan it secured for his college tuition. In an attempt to illustrate these events, the production introduces a musical number titled "Anywhere/Another Train," where Jacob is riding on a makeshift scaffold resembling a train, built on a wooden dolly on wheels, which fails to effectively bring the narrative to life.

While the actors were mildly admirable, they often struggled to engage the audience. Many performances lack emotional depth, and many scenes come across as disconnected, failing to create the intended impact and diminishing the play's overall appeal, leaving last night's audience disengaged. By addressing this aspect, they may create more cohesive scenes and achieve a stronger impact on the viewer. The musical scores and songs in this production fall flat, failing to leave a lasting impression. They lack a memorable hook, melodies, or a standout number that captivates the audience, and instead blend into the background rather than truly connecting to the story.

The narration by the elderly Jacob, sharing more about his life in the circus, could have been truly effective, intriguing, and inspiring if the actors were more engaging. Still, the chemistry on stage felt forced and never seemed to find its flow. The cast, headed by Robert Tully( Mr. Jankowski), Connor Sullivan (August), Helen Krushinski (Marlena), and Bradley Parrish as Jacob Jankowski, never seems to capture the true essence of the characters in Gruen novel nor even come close to the interesting charaters in the 2011 movie featuring captivating performers from Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon and the amazing performance from Christoph Waltz as August.

This play is problematic for me, as it could, with a few theatrical changes, be a delightful experience for those unfamiliar with the book or its film adaptation. However, for those who have already immersed themselves in Gruen's enchanting tale of romantic love, it might come across as somewhat lacking in creativity, one-dimensional characterization, and excitement. The play has a limited run in Chicago until Jul 5, making it challenging to address some of its flaws. Still, it provides an opportunity for the creative team to enhance its engaging elements. With focused attention, it could resonate more deeply with audiences before its departure.

⭐⭐1/2 STARS

James M. Nederlander Theatre

Water for Elephants: The Broadway Musical

Book By Rick Elice

Based on the novel by Sara Gruen

Original direction by Jessica Stone

Jun 23 – Jul 5, 2026

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