Catherine Burford — Theater Critic

Lisa Howard, who played Mother Abbess, was honestly the only person who could out shadow the two leads. From the very beginning of the show, we could tell that she was going to deliver as she opened with the first song. The moment that ultimately sealed the deal was her performance of “Climb Every Mountain”. When the curtains came down for intermission, my dad and I joked that the show was basically over at that point because there was no way that anyone could top that performance. He also regarded her as “the best singer in the show”. Not only did I think that she delivered in the vocal department, but I also thought that she had amazing chemistry with Maria’s actress. Whenever she was onstage, I stopped and paid attention to her. Just when I thought I would never find someone to top Christopher Plummer’s performance in the movie, Kevin Earley comes along and proves that he was born to play Captain Georg Von Trapp. He checks off just about every box that Plummer did, but he also improves on it. Amazing singing voice? Check. Strong and articulate speaking voice? Double check. Ability to switch between being stern and being loving? Triple check. Amazing chemistry and banter with the leading lady? So many checks that you end up blacking out the clipboard. And last but not least, we have the leading lady playing one of my favorite characters of all time; Cayleigh Capaldi as Maria Rainer. This woman had my eyes watering with tears of joy as she sang how the hills were alive with the sound of music.

The chemistry between the four leads is apparent from the balcony in the way back, and they are the cherry on top of the best touring production that I’ve reviewed at TPAC so far this year.

I was blown away by the show. It was one thing for me to admire the set pieces and choreography, but the acting and dramatic moments got audible reactions out of me. I was gasping and going “ooooooooh”. Water For Elephants is a dazzling and emotional spectacle.

Normally, I would just mention the choreography in the same paragraph as the other technical aspects of the show, but I just can’t. There’s a good reason why this show won the Tony Award for Best Choreography. Since this is such a dance-heavy show, it should come as no surprise that the choreographer is also the director. Casey Nicholaw didn’t just choreograph the dancing in Some Like It Hot; he carefully choreographed every single thing in such great detail.

Leading the way on this timeless journey is Lucas Hallauer as the legendary Marty McFly. He is so convincing in both acting and appearance that I nearly believed that Michael J. Fox traveled in a time machine from 1985 to reprise his role. And where would Marty be without Doc Brown? Well, he’d disappear in 1955. Thankfully, Doc Brown is here, and he’s played by David Josefsberg. Not only is he truly hilarious in the role, but he nearly made me cry with “For The Dreamers”.

Leading the way on this timeless journey is Lucas Hallauer as the legendary Marty McFly. He is so convincing in both acting and appearance that I nearly believed that Michael J. Fox traveled in a time machine from 1985 to reprise his role. And where would Marty be without Doc Brown? Well, he’d disappear in 1955. Thankfully, Doc Brown is here, and he’s played by David Josefsberg. Not only is he truly hilarious in the role, but he nearly made me cry with “For The Dreamers”.