***** If someone were to ask me to describe Rick Elice’s “Water for Elephants” in one word, that word would have to be “SPECTACLE”! This is a musical ( music & lyrics byPigpen Theatre Company) based on the book by Sara Gruen. It is a story about love, and life as a young man ,Jacob ( Zachary Keller), hops a train, unaware of where it might be headed, in order to rekindle his life. As it turns out, the train he ends up on is a Circu Train and this play is the telling of his adventures, his new friends/family, and his new love.
The character who tells us this story is his older self, now played by Robert Tully, who not only tells us the story, but at times in this uniquely directed (original direction by Jessica Stone), the two Jacobs stand side-byside, allowing us to see some of the choices that were made along the way. While not a circu performer or having anything to do with the circus, Jacob, after causing the death of a horse that was one of the feature sideshows, finds an ability to communicate with an elephant , Rosie,( the puppet design by Ray Wetmore &JR Goodman,-Camille LaBarre) who evidently is raised among Polish speakers and communicates in Polish, Jacob’s native language.
The story goes on to takeJacob into the heart and arms of Marlena ( deftly handled by Helen Krushinski) the wife of the ringmaster/owner of the circus, August ( Connor Sullivan), who is quite jealous. To avoid any confusion, both Sullivan and Krushinski play other roles in the future as do other as the timeline in two acts is many years apart. In addition to great performances as actors, and singers, there are many performers who one can tell were trained for the circu. There are some wonderful and fantastic circus moments that will have you spellbound and in afew spots, concerend for the actors. The cast is strong and impressive.
Here are the rest of the players:Javier Garcia, Ruby Gibbs, Grant HOneycut, Tyler West, Yves Artieres, Chris Carsten, Gabriella Diaz, Glenn Doyle, ZaKeyia Lacey, Jose Martinez, Ella Huestis, Adam Fullick, AndrewMeier, Marina Mendoza, John Neurohr, Bradley Parrish, Kayden Woodridge, Yemie Woo, Serifina Walker, Summer Severin and Carl Robinett. Thhey do it all! The dance numbers are terrific ( choreography by Jesse Robb & Shana Carroll) and circus acts will take you back to your childhood days of awe! I know I felt that way, like a kid!
It is always amazing when a show like this takes to the road. No elaborate sets, but pack and travel sets that flow with the show. This ste and all the props work with this wonderful cast that creates that word I used much earlier, SPECTACLE!. It sure is, and will be at The Nederalnder Theatre , located at 24 West Randolph Street through July 5th with performances as follows:
Tuesdays 7:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Thursdays 7:00 p.m.
Fridays 7:00 p.m.
Saturdays 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. 4TH of JULY 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sundays 6:30 p.m. 6/28 and 1:00 p.m. on July 5th
Tickets start at $39 and can be purchased at any of the Broadway In Chicago box offices, or www.BroadwayInChicago.com
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Water for Elephants”.
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