I was there tonight too and I'm with you . I saw it on 3/6 the first time and while i think i enjoyed maybe more than you did (and the audience gave it a standing O then too), it has improved by leaps and bounds. Everything clicked and i was genuinely moved multiple times, enjoyed the music in context, and was astonished all over again at what was happening on stage. Everyone around me seemed to be loving it too.
BTW i should state like another poster here i have been following the boards and saw the show twice, and i'm usually a lurker and don't generally post. But i too have been coaxed out of hiding to say how much I loved this show.
I can see why some enjoy this but I found it incredibly wanting. A forgettable score with mostly banal lyrics that rarely moves the plot forward, and a book that moves between cliche and unfocused. I like PigPen, so I was optimistic. But after the first couple numbers, the score goes downhill. The energy of the first couple numbers disappeared quick and then, it's clear energy was all they had.
That said, the circus tricks are wonderful. And when the show should have the most meaning and emotion, in the climax of Act 2, we once again go into an extended sequence of tricks. And I don't blame them, because they're impressive enough to distract you.
Looking back at time stamps on my phone, the running time for the recent performance of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS that I attended was approximately 2 hours, 30 minutes. It did not feel long to me as an audience member.
I saw this last night and very much enjoyed it. The circus acrobatics are very impressive and the story is heartwarming. I’m not sure why folks complained about the elephant. I thought it was fine, and quite appropriate. It got plenty of applause when it was revealed. The aerial acrobatics, especially the one about the injured horse, were breathtaking.
I attended multiples shows last week and this was one if them. I enjoyed it. It isn't award winning theatre IMO but it was good. A talented cast did a great job working with a score that just was okay. The circus set was fun. I like it. Again, zero groundbreaking theatre here but it's worth the price of admission.