Review: "Water for Elephants" at Ohio Theatre — Technical Mastery, Uneven Musical

Based on Sara Gruen’s beloved 1932 novel - and its 2011 film adaptation, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is a technical triumph wrapped around a dramatically uneven musical.  Directed by Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo), with book by three-time Tony nominee Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher), and score by PigPen Theatre Co., WATER FOR ELEPHANTS leans heavily into spectacle over storytelling: aerial silks, acrobatics, puppetry, and constant physical motion that dominate the stage.  However, this spectacle overwhelms the story rather than serving it, resulting unfortunately in a flop under the big top.

_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/columbus/article/Review-WATER-FOR-ELEPHANTS-at-Ohio-Theatre-A-Spectacle-in-Search-of-a-Soul-20260610)._