Oh my goodness, RUN don't walk and grab your phone to order tickets to see this show before it leaves on Sunday!! I have seen almost every musical in Atlanta over the last ten years and Water For Elephants is one of my top three all-time favorite shows!
I LOVED everything about this show from the depression era clothes and flashy circus costumes to the jaw-droppingly-talented cast and phenomenal choreography! This cast wrung every emotion from me... I laughed out loud, I cried, I fell in love, hated, experienced profound grief, and burst with joy.
One of the most unique elements in this musical was the inclusion of a tremendous variety of circus acts woven seamlessly into some of the best choreography I have ever seen. Bringing the circus animals to life through puppetry was reminiscent of The Lion King, but combining puppetry arts with circus arts took it to the next level. The exquisite beauty of Antoine Boissereau's aerial silk performance portraying the death of Marlena's beloved horse, Silver Star, brought tears to my eyes. I absolutely loved the orangutan and also the perky, tag-wagging dog. But the star of the show, Rosie the elephant, was everything I hoped she would be and more! I found myself forgetting who was actually alive and who wasn't.
The use of stop action photography for the stampede was brilliant! Kudos to the props manager for the attention to detail in those scenes. The many subtleties throughout the performance were outstanding, such as the initial transition from the present day Jacob to his younger self, the gentle swaying of the actors on the train, the rhythm of the hammers while raising the big top, the dramatic lighting, and the shift of view from backstage to audience. I especially appreciated that the minimal, but very clever sets, stretched the audience's imagination.
I can't wait to purchase this soundtrack! The musicians coupled with the amazing voices of this cast made the music and lyrics by Pigpen Theatre Company unforgettable.
Water For Elephants is a world premiere! The Alliance has premiered nine other productions that have transferred to Broadway including the Tony-nominated The Prom, Tuck Everlasting, Bring It On: the Musical and The Color Purple. I have no doubt that Water For Elephants will be the tenth! If Cirque du Soleil and the Center for Puppetry Arts had a baby that could sing and dance, it would be this show! Water for Elephants is spectacular, don't miss it!!
NOTE: I agree that due to adult language and situations coupled with some acts of violence, this is a show most suitable for teens and adults. This would be a fantastic date night event, a girl's night out or a terrific teen/parent night out.
Thank you to The Alliance Theatre for hosting me. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.
Based on the critically acclaimed and best-selling novel by Sara Gruen, the world-premier of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, is an adventure filled with romance, deception, and a little bit of magic, all under the big top of a traveling circus.
In WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, Jacob Jankowski is running towards a new life when he hitches a ride on a mysterious train. He finds himself in the heart of a traveling circus, the Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show On Earth, with a new job, a new home, and a new family. When charismatic ringmaster August brings Rosie the elephant on as the new star attraction, Jacob and August’s wife Marlena join forces to train her. As Jacob and Marlena’s shared compassion develops into love, August’s cruel nature surfaces, threatening to derail Jacob’s life once more.
Brought to theatrical life by an internationally acclaimed and innovative creative team, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS will reignite your dreams of running away with the circus. This production is helmed by an exciting creative team led by Director Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo), with a book by Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher), and music and lyrics by the award-winning PigPen Theatre Co.
NOTE: THIS PRODUCTION CONTAINS STROBE LIGHTING, DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE, SIMULATED GUNSHOTS, ADULT LANGUAGE, AND ADULT THEMES. IT IS RECOMMENDED FOR AUDIENCES 13 AND UP.
PERFORMANCES: through July 9th:
Tuesday- Thursday at 7:30PM
Friday at 8:00PM
Saturday at 2:30PM and 8:00PM
Sunday at at 2:30PM and 7:30PM (last show is Sunday, July 9th at 2:30PM)
TICKETS:
Purchase tickets, starting at $10.00 at www.alliancetheatre.org/waterforelephants.
LOCATION:
Inside the Woodruff Arts Center
1280 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
