Theater Review – October 28, 2026

“WATER FOR ELEPHANTS” CONFUSING STORY DISAPPOINT BUT ELABORATE SPECTACULE AND A SUPERB CAST MAKE IT VISUALLY DYNAMIC

“Water for Elephants”
Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

While “Water for Elephants,” based on Sara Gruen’s novel, is an interesting concept show, the Broadway musical is confusing as the complex story shifts back and forth from the present to the past as it tells a story of circus performers that proves difficult to follow.  These characters aren’t unique further allowing the show to flounder.

Lackluster music fails to clarify the bewildering plot so it gets in the way as it drags out the rambling tale.  The show’s circus setting does allow visual allure as it moves throughout the magical world with elaborate life-sized puppets portraying the animals that are significant to the convoluted plot.  A multi-talented cast executes the difficult circus acts with seeming ease as they create characters with thoughtful development.

The show was not a long-running Broadway success after it premiered at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre but since Broadway Across America was involved financially in the two initial stagings the show was bound to tour as part of the national series presented throughout America including Tempe.

Is “Water for Elephants” worth experiencing?  Probably not unless you are willing to sacrifice a comprehensible story for spectacular stage dynamics.  The show is a visual delight but a failure as an understandable musical.  To gather the ever-flowing story, audiences must clearly comprehend the show’s dialogue and for once an adequate show sound system coupled with ASU Gammage’s usually unreliable acoustics for musicals makes comprehension possible.

The story follows several performers who have multiple reasons for traveling as part of a second-rate circus.  Middle-aged Jankowski looks back at his checkered circus life.  Marlena is married to the circus promotor August, but younger Jankowski falls hard for her as she fights a loveless marriage filled with cruelty.  The two discover love for each other but also for the animals.  It is a demanding show because the performers must perform the intricate and challenging spectacle associated with the Big Top.

Although original director Jessica Stone was not involved in staging the tour, Ryan Emmolns recreates her original artful production.  Interesting choreography from Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll adds to the show’s visual panache.  Robert Tully is the older but amenable Jankowski who used the circus to escape his rudimentary life.  Connor Sullivan is the mean circus producer August and you rightfully hate his biased expectations.  Helen Krushinski is the gullible Marlena who falls for Zachary Keller’s young and idealistic Jankowski.

“Water for Elephants” is grand circus spectacle but the splashy look doesn’t adequately compensate for a rambling and confusing story so the musical sputters and ultimately disappoints.  “Water for Elephants” continues through Sunday, November 1.  To order tickets, call the ASU Gammage box office at 480-965-3434 or order tickets online at www.asugammage.com.

Grade: C