“Elf – The Musical” Flies Festively High into the Central Park Sky on Broadway – front mezz junkies, Theater News

The Broadway Theatre Review: Elf – The Musical

By Ross

I think my heart grew a few sizes larger the other night while watching Elf – the Musical at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre. And I’m not kidding. I walked into the theatre a big grouch. I’ve had a hard busy work day, all the while navigating a pulled muscle in my lower back and a sore shoulder muscle that never stopped aching all day. I was tired, cranky, and basically thinking I would be much better off in bed on painkillers drinking a hot toddy. Happy Holidays everyone, but within minutes of the most surprisingly sweet and festive two and a half hours on Broadway, my discomfort was gone. Just from watching this charmingly funny tale of a very tall elf who learns just days before Christmas that he isn’t actually an elf, but a human, who, a long time ago crawled into Santa’s sack when he was just a wee infant. And instead of Santa returning him to his momma (a question that never crossed my mind until now), Buddy the Elf was raised by the happiest of happy elves who dance and sing up a storm and make toys at record speed. Now that’s a wonderful life, I’m thinking.

Now one might call me a Classic Christmas enthusiast, who can not make it through the holiday season without watching: “It’s a Wonderful Life“, “Love, Actually“, “A Christmas Story“, and the one and only original animated “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas“. Never ever the live-action film. I avoid films like that, and “Elf”, the 2003 film that starred Will Ferrell, and I really had no intention of watching it. Pretty much ever (I still believe that to be true). But I have to say, the musical version, brought to magical life by the talented team that delivered The Prom to Broadway, with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Thomas Meehan & Bob Martin, is just what the holiday doctor ordered, or should have, as I totally forgot about my aches and pains (and my hard day) for the entirety of the show.

Perfectly embodied and sung by the gem, Grey Henson (Broadway’s Mean Girls; Shucked), Buddy the Elf is, like his familial elves, “Happy All the Time“, until it slips out that he is not like all the other elves. He’s special, they tell him. And by special, they mean human, and not at all an elf. So with a little holiday push by Santa, played lovingly by Sean Astin (“Lord of the Rings” trilogy), Buddy is off to New York City to find his father and, in turn, help him, who Santa states is firmly stamped on the naughty list, rediscover his holiday spirit and reconnect with his family. His journey is long, assisted by the somewhat straightforward heavily projected set and costuming by Tim Goodchild (West End’s Strangers on a Train), with festive lighting by Patrick Woodroffe (Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell), and sound design by Gareth Owen (Broadway’s Hell’s Kitchen) & Peter Fitzgerald (Broadway’s Purlie Victorious..), that feels somewhat more like a touring production, rather than a planted Broadway show, but it really doesn’t effect his “sparklyjollytwinklejingley” spirit that never fades, even when he finally comes face to face with his overworked and overwhelmed Daddy (Walter) Hobbs, played gloriously sour by Michael Hayden (Broadway’s Judgment at Nuremberg).

He tries to follow Santa’s sage advice, “ask first, then hug” but Buddy’s enthusiasm doesn’t do the festive family trick. It only engages and enlists boss Hobbs’ staff, led by the fabulously talented Jennifer Sánchez (Red Bull Theater’s The Alchemist) as office assistant Deb, who initially mistakes Buddy for a singing telegram entertainer. This mismatch doesn’t go well, as expected, and Buddy finds himself escorted out into the street, and pointed towards the ‘North Pole’ village at the nearby Macy’s Department Store. In some way, this is the Christmas match he needs, filling the standoffish employees there with his happy elfin spirit, promoted by the anxious store manager played hilariously well by Kalen Allen (Netflix’s “Meet Me Next Christmas“). Who also can sell you the greatest hotdogs in town, depending on your mood or taste buds.

But the main event of that short overnight stay is when Buddy the Elf falls quickly and hopelessly in love with the pretty Jovie, a determined-to-be practical store-elf-for-hire, who doesn’t believe in all that joyful, hopeful magic of Christmas, vowing to “Never Fall in Love (With and Elf)” or so she states. Powerhouse Kayla Davion (Off-Broadway’s White Girl in Danger) as Jovie knocks down that gingerbread house (not literally) with her killer vocals and sweet straightforward charm, pulling us in with ease to her wishful thinking and romantic ideals. We can’t help but fall for her as quickly as Buddy does, but his forgetfulness at crucial moments places a few obstacles for this sleigh ride to continue down its non-snowy path. But we are very forgiving for the lovable Buddy, and we hold onto our festive hearts hoping (and knowing) she will be forgiving too.

You see, Walter Hobbs, the unknown father of Buddy, works long hard hours as a publisher of children’s books in an Empire State Building office. He’s far too busy and stressed to go Christmas shopping with his wife, Emily, gloriously well-played by lovely-voiced Ashley Brown (Encores’ The Golden Apple), and their son, Michael, delightfully portrayed by Kai Edgar (Ahmanson’s A Christmas Story). But after an altercation with Macy’s fake Santa, Buddy is dropped off at the Hobbs’ door by a couple of jolly policemen, and a bond begins to form with his newfound family, one that we know will benefit them all, once they embrace his joyful soul.

His new stepmom can’t help herself but giggle along with all of us as we watch Henson’s Buddy drive the story forward as only he can, giving us “A Christmas Song” and energy that can’t be denied. With Buddy decked out in human work clothes whispering “Dad” until he can’t help but yell it out, Elf never stops for a second, completely captivating us all in its holiday cheer and goodwill. The songs, particularly the lyrics, are impossible not to love, especially “The Story of Buddy the Elf” sung with such cheer, and backed up by the effervescent choreography of Liam Steel (West End/Broadway’s Company) layered like icing on top of the orchestrations cake by music supervisor Alan Williams (Broadway’s Funny Girl). It could make anyone believe in Santa, even the grouchy Mr. Greenway (Astin) who demands everyone work through Christmas just so he can publish a new children’s Christmas storybook.

Naturally, everything comes together in the end, energizing the New York City Christmas spirit in ways that will make you smile stupidly from ear to ear and send a sleigh soaring. As directed with a heartful of joy and love by Philip Wm. McKinley (Broadway’s The Boy From Oz), Elf flies high into the Central Park sky, and I can’t begin to tell you just how much this production cured my rainy workday Thursday night blues, ushering me into Christmas, before sending me out into the difficult streets of New York City with the happiest of elvish steps, humming the music and singing “Buddy the Elf” as I made my way home. Hensen’s Buddy certainly knows how to play those Christmas bells in a way that lifted the weight off my shoulders, reducing my achy muscles, and giving me a little lump in my throat. And I’m sure it did the same to all those enthralled kids around me, including the adult-plus-one I brought with me that night. Don’t miss your chance to care about Santa once again with Broadway’s Elf the Musical.