WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Broadway Previews — Page 8

I was there tonight too and I'm with you . I saw it on 3/6 the first time and while i think i enjoyed maybe more than you did (and the audience gave it a standing O then too), it has improved by leaps and bounds. Everything clicked and i was genuinely moved multiple times, enjoyed the music in context, and was astonished all over again at what was happening on stage. Everyone around me seemed to be loving it too.

BTW i should state like another poster here i have been following the boards and saw the show twice, and i'm usually a lurker and don't generally post. But i too have been coaxed out of hiding to say how much I loved this show.

I can see why some enjoy this but I found it incredibly wanting. A forgettable score with mostly banal lyrics that rarely moves the plot forward, and a book that moves between cliche and unfocused. I like PigPen, so I was optimistic. But after the first couple numbers, the score goes downhill. The energy of the first couple numbers disappeared quick and then, it's clear energy was all they had.

That said, the circus tricks are wonderful. And when the show should have the most meaning and emotion, in the climax of Act 2, we once again go into an extended sequence of tricks. And I don't blame them, because they're impressive enough to distract you.

In no way offensively bad, just sadly banal.

I saw this last night and very much enjoyed it. The circus acrobatics are very impressive and the story is heartwarming. I’m not sure why folks complained about the elephant. I thought it was fine, and quite appropriate. It got plenty of applause when it was revealed. The aerial acrobatics, especially the one about the injured horse, were breathtaking.

The show ran 2 hours, 40 minutes.

Seeing this tonight made me realize that I need to give myself permission to leave at intermission if I am not connecting with a show. I stuck around for Act 2 and regret doing so. The music, as others have said, is sorely lacking. Any momentum is ground to a halt whenever a song begins. Unfortunately, Grant Gustin has the type of voice where, if you heard him singing at karaoke, you'd go 'huh, he's pretty good!!' - but you probably wouldn't think 'huh, he should star in a Broadway musical!'

On the positive side: The acrobatic performers were wonderful; I was so delighted to see Sara Gettelfinger on stage again (though I wish she had more to do); Paul Alexander Nolan is magnetic, and the only time I wasn't aware of every passing second was when he was center stage.

I was there tonight. The show is spell binding. It moves like a gust of wind. Clockwork. Truly wild what Jessica Stone accomplished on the directorial side of things. I particularly loved EASY in act one with the silk performer representing the animals pain. Beautiful. Honestly ... the score worked for me. I can see it definitely being divisive. But again, it works. The direction, the choreography, the score/book, the cast ... it's really very strong. I understand the critics pick. I would much rather this take home the gold over a jukebox musical. But I am not sure that this elephant is even in the race.

This show was a total surprised, the best new musical of the season, no contest.

Does anyone know if Grant Gustin has announced any planned time off?