Christmas comes with traditions – Salvation Army street workers ringing their bells, carols playing on loops in every store, and favorite holiday movies on television each night. In addition to other classic films this year, every cable channel offers the Will Ferrell movie “ELF.”
Now, the musical based on the film ELF has returned to Broadway at the Marquis Theatre. With glitter, glitz, humor, and music,the show is ideal for out-of-town visitors and children.
ELF tells the story of Buddy, an orphan who, as a baby, crawled into Santa’s toy bag. He was raised by the elves at the North Pole for thirty years. Buddy doesn’t realize that he isn’t an elf but actually a human until he overhears two elves talking. When he learns his true identity and that his real father is alive, he sets off to NYC to meet Walter Hobbs, his actual dad, who doesn’t know that he exists.
It’s a fish-out-of-water story providing much humor as Buddy walks south from the North Pole through tunnels to the city. Buddy is so genuinely happy and pleasant that he quickly wins over everyone he meets, including the police sent to arrest him, the street Santas and jaded New Yorkers.
The show stars Grey Henson as the lovable Buddy. His broad smile, considerable skills as a singer and dancer, and his charisma make him a wonderful Buddy. It’s nearly impossible not to find the talented Henson endearing.
The supporting cast is generally good. As Buddy’s girlfriend, Kayla Davion adds a little romance to the story. Talented Ashley Brown plays Walter’s wife, and Kai Edgar makes an impressive Broadway debut as Walter’s 12-year-old son. Sean Astin plays both Santa and the gruff boss, Mr. Greenway, so the script includes a “Lord of the Rings” joke. Yet his singing and that of Michael Hayden as Walter leave something to be desired.
The ensemble’s dancing and singing as they play the elves on their knees, the helpers in Macy’s workshop, and the exhausted street Santas is impressive (Choreographer: Liam Steel).
Matthew Sklar’s music ( “The Prom”, “The Wedding Singer”) is pleasant and tuneful, and the lyrics by Chad Beguelin (“The Prom,” “Aladdin” ) are witty and clever. Even though ELF feels like a children’s show, there is enough in the lyrics and the book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin to appeal to the adults in the audience. Santa scrolls through TikTok on his iPad before finding his list of who is naughty and who is nice. Santa no longer uses reindeer since he got a nasty letter from PETA, so instead his sled is powered by peoples’ belief in Christmas. Unfortunately, tired, busy New Yorkers lack the spirit and cause the sled to stall in Central Park.
You can’t have a Christmas tale without snow, so at the end of the production, snow, actual wet ‘stuff,’ flows throughout the stage and theater. The audience loves it and the reaction gives Santa’s sled enough power to fly. Suddenly, the sled flies over the stage, much to the delight of the Marquise audience.
The producers of ELF are hoping that the limited run show will become a Christmas staple. Henson is truly a delight and is worth the visit and almost enough to make a jaded New Yorker believe.
