Photos by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
There’s no better place to see a National Tour launch than at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre, and Water for Elephants made sure to arrive with plenty of flair. The show is packed with talent, though it took me a while to really feel pulled into the story. The plot follows a pretty familiar path – boy falls for girl, girl is tied to the wrong guy, and conflict builds until boy finally wins her over. And just as the tension hit a peak, the show wrapped up almost too quickly, with the second act rushing through the conflict a bit.
The cast, however, carried the show beautifully. The lead performers all had amazing voices and stage presence, and the main character (played by Zachary Keller) made you feel his emotions in every scene. Even when the plot seemed to drag, the performances were strong enough to keep you invested. Unfortunately, the same can’t quite be said for the music. The songs never really swelled into those “grand moments” you expect from a musical; they often felt like background music to keep the story moving along.
What really made the night shine wasn’t the love story or the score, but the way the production leaned into its circus roots. Acrobatics, aerial stunts, and clever choreography gave this show its energy. I found myself glued to the ensemble members more than once, just waiting to see what daring flip, balance, or trick they’d pull off next. The audience seemed to agree, as there were plenty of moments that were met with big applause, gasps, and cheers. I even found myself with my mouth hanging open more than once at the daring stunts.
It was absolute insanity when the circus tent was first raised and one performer, Sam Kellar-Long, held onto the top of the pole hanging sideways from it as it went up. The aerial work from Yves Artières, who portrayed an injured horse through the use of minimal puppetry, was also stunning. And speaking of puppetry, this production’s use gave it some beautiful touches, even if I’ve seen some more intricate puppetry in other shows that have graced the Hippodrome stage.
The design work was a bit of a mixed bag. The lighting team deserves huge credit, with bold colors and dramatic shifts that gave the show a striking visual identity, often elevating quieter moments. The set, on the other hand, sometimes felt underwhelming. But when the circus tent was raised and the action spilled into it? That was a jaw-dropping moment, and easily one of the coolest uses of staging I’ve seen.
So, while Water for Elephants may not be my favorite musical out there, it’s still a visually exciting experience. The combination of circus spectacle, skilled performers, and sharp design makes it worth catching.
Water for Elephants runs at The Hippodrome through October 4th. You can find more information on the National Tour by visiting waterforelephantsthemusical.com.
Final Grade: B
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