THEATRE REVIEW: "Water For Elephants" at the Imperial Theatre (New York, NY)

     On August 4th, 2024 I saw the 3pm performance of the musical "Water For Elephants" at the Imperial Theatre in New York City.  I won the Telecharge Ticket Lottery again, having just won it for the July 31st performance of "Back to the Future: The Musical."  As of writing this blog review, that musical is playing over at the Winter Garden Theatre, which was a slightly longer walk from Grand Central Station.  This time, I took the slightly shorter walk from the train station to the Imperial Theatre, and saw what turned out to be an incredible musical.  Incredible, and underrated, in my opinion.

          Before "Water For Elephants" made its Broadway Premiere on March 21st of this year (after beginning previews on February 24th, 2024), it made its World Premiere Debut at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.  The World Premiere Engagement of the musical performed from June 16th thru July 9th, 2023, after beginning previews on June 7th of that year.  While most of the creative team of the World Premiere Engagement transferred to the Broadway Production, there were a few changes in the cast during the transfer.  While it would have been neat to see the World Premiere cast at the Alliance Theatre, I'm thrilled to have seen members of the Original Broadway Cast of "Water For Elephants."  

 

The marquee for "Water For Elephants" at the Imperial Theatre.  I took this photo. 

     Speaking of which, at the August 4th, 2024 performance of "Water For Elephants," the cast included Gregg Edelman (Mr. Jankowski), Stan Brown (Camel), Wade McCollum (Wade), Joe De Paul (Walter), Sara Gettelfinger (Barbara), Ken Wulf Clark (August, Charlie), Isabelle McCalla (Marlena/June), Grant Gustin (Jacob Jankowski), Paul Castree (Sal), Alexandra Gaelle Royer (Agnes, an orangutan), Marissa Rosen (Sue), Taylor Colleton (Vera), and Antoine Boissereau (Silver Star, a horse).  Rosie, an elephant, was played, and puppeteered by, Caroline Kane, Brandon Block, Paul Castree, Charles South, and Matthew Varvar.  The ensemble members, who played the "kinkers" and "rousts," are so numerous that I don't think I can list them all here without going crazy...or crazier.  That's a shame because they are all so talented.

     Oh, what the Hell, the ensemble included Antoine Boissereau, Brandon Block, Paul Castree, Taylor Colleton, Gabriel Olivera de Paula Costa, Isabella Luisa Diaz, Keaton Hientoff-Killian, Nicolas Jelmoni, Caroline Kane, Harley McLeish, Marissa Rosen, Alexandra Gaelle Royer, Charles South, and Matthew Varvarr.  These people would twirl high in the air while dangling from the rafters, throw knives at each other, and only once did one of them look scared.  But I think that was part of the show, since it was during a scene when all of their jobs hung in the balance... "you mean I can't catch knives in my mouth no more?"

Production photo by Matthew Murphy. 

     

     

     

     

     The musical "Water For Elephants" is based on the novel of the same name by Sara Gruen.  I know I read the book, but it was awhile back.  I couldn't remember a single thing from the novel, except for a detail towards the end of the musical.  I imagine that when something went wrong during the musical adaptation's development, and a scene had to be omitted due to the budget, that the production crew would shake their fist and cry "Grrruuuueeennnnn!"  I haven't seen the movie "Water For Elephants," but I'm thinking of watching it sometime.

     

     "Water For Elephants" features a book by Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by the PigPen Theatre Company.  I am not sure why individuals within the company aren't credited with the music and lyrics.  Perhaps, in the event that weak points in the music are pointed out, said individuals can hide behind the company name?  I didn't really notice any "weak" musical numbers.  I suppose there were one or two songs that probably didn't need to be in the show.  But I suppose if I have a problem with that, I can mail a letter to PigPen Theatre Company's P.O. Box Number.  

POV Playbill Photo I took from my seat

      The scenic design for the Broadway Production of "Water For Elephants" was by Takesha Kata.  I was impressed with the majority of the scenery in this production.  The exception was during a formal scene where swaths of what appeared to be ornate wallpaper were utilized to indicate a room in an upscale locale.  I just think that a little less could have been left to the imagination.  I know the musical took place during the great depression, but swaths of wallpaper still went on walls at that time.  A minimalist design is all very well.  But this was not a minimalist production.   However, I really enjoyed this spectacular Broadway Spectacle, and hope more shows like it come thundering along in the near future--with or without an elephant.