WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Opening Night Critics' Reviews- Page 5

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/15/24 at 7:13pm

Huffington Post: After 'The Flash,' Grant Gustin makes his Broadway debut in 'Water for Elephants'

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/grant-gustin-water-for-elephants-broadway-flash_n_661c6dcfe4b0f709554ae310

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/23/24 at 9:54pm

It's been a month since the show opened and Rex Reed penned his scathing, over-the-top pan. Neither he nor the Observer have posted a theater review since (though he's posted TV reviews). If W4E was enough to make him give it up, maybe that's another plus in the show's column.

[Miss10036]

Posted: 5/12/24 at 1:39am

I didn't feel that compelled to see this, but the decent reviews and best musical nomination made me reconsider.  I went tonight and I kind of enjoyed this?  I was pleasantly surprised that I found quite a bit to like.  Jessica Stone gives us some neat staging and if anything, I appreciate that this shows off more of what she can do.  Her direction certainly papers over the weaker elements and adds interest, and I thought she did well, overall, integrating the circus elements.  The suggestive puppetry and use of different set pieces (like the "train") worked for me and fit with an idea of making do with what you have during the Depression.  While the elephant didn't blow my mind, I didn't need her to be this full, impressive puppet.  It would have felt jarring, or like pandering for applause, if we suddenly got one.  Paul Alexander Nolan's magnetic and I couldn't take my eyes off of him anytime he was onstage.  Now, this show's got flaws.  The main character is a blank, the score isn't much to write home about, and the framing device gets distracting and doesn't establish much connection between younger and older Jacob.  There are many times, in both acts, when the momentum just stalls, and I don't feel they've cracked the emotional core of this story.  As wonderful as Izzy McCalla is here, she can only do so much with what's on the page.  I'm not sure I'd recommend W4E, but I thought it was a nice night out and worth going for the creative staging.

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 5/12/24 at 10:20am

MemorableUserName said: "It's been a month since the show opened and Rex Reed penned his scathing, over-the-top pan. Neither he nor the Observer have posted a theater review since (though he's posted TV reviews). If W4E was enough to make him give it up, maybe that's another plus in the show's column."

The thing about Reed, despite being a sad and nasty human being, is that there is usually an element of truth in his rantings.  This is not to excuse his desperate attempts to stay relevant.