Girl at the Rock Shows

Photo by: Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade

When was the last time you went to the circus? I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I did. I was surely a super young child, and it was something my parents took me to. I kind of miss the spectacular-ness of it all, but as I became more and more aware of the issues surrounding circuses, specifically the treatment of animals, I bowed out of that world. I don’t miss it. It was never a big part of my life or an annual tradition, but being transported to a circus on Tuesday night at the gorgeous Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis definitely made me long for the days when this was a thing. At the same time, this performance acknowledged the issue I have with the event. What I’m trying to say is that I’m still a bit torn about circuses, but I know Tuesday night was one heck of a performance.

Water for Elephants is a stage adaptation of the film adaptation of the 2006 novel by Sara Gruen. Okay, maybe it’s a stage adaptation of the book, not the film that brought this title to the silver screen in 2011 with the help of Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, and a slew of other big-name performers, but, truthfully, I wouldn’t know. I’ve never read the book, haven’t seen the movie, and honestly had no clue what was in store for me when it came to seeing this Broadway musical. Since I knew nothing about the plot behind this show, I have a feeling some of you don’t either, so let’s get into that really quickly.

This story follows a young man who, after losing everything, impulsively hops on a passing train and finds it is a circus train. He is soon recruited as the animal vet for the traveling circus, where he falls for both the enchantment of circus life and the ringleader’s wife. The story features drama, humor, clowns, and a possible murder—open to interpretation—but centers on love and a heartwarming narrative. Told through the memories of the protagonist as an elderly man in a nursing home, this perspective brings additional depth. Essentially, it’s a tale of escape to the circus, forbidden love, chaos, and ultimately, the boy winning the girl, set against a vividly dramatic backdrop perfect for the stage.

There’s a lot happening in this performance, and I don’t have all day to break it down for you (I also really think you should go check this out for yourself), but I do have some sticking points, starting with the animals. Although I wasn’t mentally prepared for some of the more tender parts surrounding the animals (I’m the type of person who can watch a zombie apocalypse movie and see people getting murdered, but the second you show an animal in a scene, I can’t watch anymore), the way that this performance depicted the animals was truly stunning. It reminded me of what I saw in The Lion King. It was clear what each animal was, but there was something slightly abstract and beautifully artsy about it. from the way, at times, the elephant was just a performer holding the trunk as they danced across the stage to the way that the star show horse was depicted by an insanely talented silks performer who, although flying high above the stage, still had very horse-like movements to them, it was all just stunning and was absolutely a favorite part of this performance for me.

Another favorite was the acrobatics that came with this show. That’s no surprise, right? I mean, come on, it’s a musical about a circus, so there were sure to be moments of high-flying stunts. These stunts were truly jaw-dropping. Although this wasn’t anywhere close to seeing a full-on circus, I feel like this group of performers did a great job of making you lose that reality, if only for a few minutes here and there. From the bright lights to the colorful costumes, the way that everyone in this cast was able to do something that left me jaw on the ground added a little razzle-dazzle to an already spectacular show.

Here’s the thing about the people who were cast in this show. They aren’t just acrobats and wanna-be-circus-people (if that’s even a thing), they are singers, dancers, actors, and everything in between. There was never a moment in this show where I wasn’t convinced that someone on stage wanted to be there. Everyone in this troupe performed with a sense of conviction and seemed to be just as powerful an actor or actress as they were a dancer or gymnast. I wish I could tell you that there was a standout performer here, but there just wasn’t. Sure, Zachary Keller (playing Jacob Jankowski– the kid who joined the circus) and Helen Krushinski (playing Marlena – the already-married love interest) stole the spotlight throughout the show, but that was just because they had the main parts. Truthfully, I found Conor Sullivan (playing August- the ringleader of the circus and unhappy husband of Marlena) to be a very lovable villain of sorts, and I absolutely loved Grant Huneycutt’s (playing Wade– one of the members of the circus) voice so much. Yemie Woo (who didn’t even have a named part but was part of the cast) was completely stellar on stage. I felt like they owned my eyes every time they popped up on stage.

There are a few things that signal a heck of a performance for me when it comes to theater. One of those things is being completely transported away from your life and into another world. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I felt like I was in a circus on Tuesday night, but I did feel like I was in one and watching all of the nitty-gritty work that it takes to put on a circus, so we can check that off my list. Another signal is a moment where you get so wrapped up in a story that you feel real emotions and shed real tears. Although I tried to hide it, there were two moments when that happened for me, so… check! Lastly, a signal of a heck of a performance is leaving feeling both energized and exhausted all at the same time– check.

To sum it all up: whether you know anything about Water for Elephants or not, this is absolutely a must-see performance for anyone who is looking for just a little bit more razzle-dazzle in their life right now. It’s emotional at times, funny at others, full of stunts and truly talented humans that will absolutely take you away from the insanity of this world, if only for a couple of hours.