By Kimberly Rau
The national tour of the Tony-nominated musical “Water for Elephants,” based on the novel by Sara Gruen, is at the Providence Performing Arts Center through this weekend. And while the show has some strong visual elements and breathtaking moments, the overall production fails to realize its full potential.
Briefly, Jacob Jankowski is running away from tragedy in 1931 when, desperate to be anywhere but home, he hops a circus train. His veterinary background makes him invaluable to the economically depressed troupe, but beyond the glitz of the big top, things are not quite as they seem. During his time with the circus, Jacob falls in love, experiences heartbreak and ultimately finds his place in the world.
To be sure, it’s a compelling story. And this production delivers in many ways. There are strong soloists. The choreography and advanced acrobatics are top-notch, and the animal puppetry is beyond beautiful. The sets are well-considered and feel authentic to the time period, making it easy to believe you’re really watching a circus nearly a century ago. Kudos to the show’s original designers for pulling out all the stops.
The drawbacks primarily lie in a weak book and largely uninspired libretto. (“Squeaky wheels don’t get the grease, they get fired,” one song insists, relentlessly dragging out the mutilated metaphor through the rest of the lyrics.) There are a few really good songs, but the rest fell flat. The acting in this company is uneven, with some delivering great performances and others making some real head-scratchers of choices. The acrobats and puppetry are brilliant, though, and serve to cover a multitude of sins. Who cares what they lyrics are when someone is spinning upside down on a tent pole, and other people are playing acrobatic catch with sledgehammers?
Worth noting among the drawbacks, this is a non-equity tour. This means the producers are demanding Broadway/equity ticket prices, but the (mostly quite young) company is not receiving union pay, insurance, etc., which should be enough to give any theater afficionado pause.
Speaking of the company, there are many so-so productions where the actors shine in one way or another, making me wish I could see them in something else that truly showcased their talent. This is one of those shows. Actors Zachary Keller and Helen Krushinski play Jacob and Marlena, respectively, the latter being a circus performer married to August, a volatile circus master. Both of them have strong, beautiful voices. I would have loved Krushinski to have a better vehicle for her talents, though the numbers she does have (“Easy” in Act 1 and “What Do You Do?” in Act 2) are some of the best in the show. Connor Sullivan does a nice job portraying the violent, desperate August, and also has a very nice voice. And there are some real standout ensemble members as well. May this tour lead to more and better opportunities for all of them.
Overall, the musical version of “Water for Elephants” had a big challenge to rise to the level of its source material. In some ways, it excels. In others, it falls short. If you’re a fan of the story, you’ll appreciate the way its designers chose to bring it to life and, if you really resonate with the characters already, may find a deeper connection to the narrative than I did. But if you primarily attend the theater for strong musical numbers that stick in your head for days and complex character arcs, you may be better off saving your money for another show.
“Water for Elephants” runs through Dec. 7, 2025, at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. Tickets may be obtained at the box office, online at ppacri.org or by calling 401.421.2787
