Dominion Theatre 5 November – 2 January. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
Wow! What a spectacular Christmas treat. Elf is just the tonic for miserable rainy days – go inside and have fun in the snow!
Based on the hit movie, the show tells the story of Buddy, the biggest elf in the North Pole, and what happens when he finally finds out that he is actually a human.
With book by Thomas Meehan (Hairspray, Annie) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone), music by Matthew Sklar (The Wedding Singer) and lyrics by Chad Beguelin (Aladdin, The Wedding Singer), you know that this is going to be a class act. As soon as Santa (Mark McKerracher) steps onto the stage (with the finest reminder of theatre etiquette I’ve seen), the magic begins.
The elves are a hoot – the longer they are on stage, the funnier their height becomes. Ben Forster’s Buddy almost makes you forget Will Ferrell. He is a bouncing snowball of childish innocence and enthusiasm, and his reactions to “bad” things are hysterical. And, of course, there’s THAT voice.
Buddy travels to New York and finds his father Walter’s (Joe McGann) office. Special mention to Jennie Dale here, who almost steals the show as Walter’s secretary Deb. After being thrown out of the office, and Macy’s (following a brilliant Christmas decorating scene), and being arrested, Buddy turns up at Walter’s apartment. After a DNA test Buddy suits up and goes to work with his dad – leading to the office workers discovering how to make it snow at their desks. McGann’s exasperation and deadpan delivery during these scenes is fantastic.
Kimberley Walsh really has very little to do as Jovie, Buddy’s new girlfriend, but what she does is great, especially when belting out “Never fall in love (with an elf)”. Jessica Martin and Ilan Galkoff, as Emily and Michael Hobbs, make a wonderful double act and are full of energy. I am sure Martin’s rapport with the other young actors sharing the role of Michael will be just as entertaining.
After ruining, then saving, Walter’s career, Buddy and his family find Santa’s sleigh crashed in Central Park – no one believes in Santa in New York, so the sleigh can’t fly. There is a lovely running joke about why he doesn’t use reindeer anymore. The scene where Buddy helps the people of New York find their Christmas spirit is gloriously cheesy and heartwarming, and Santa’s sleigh taking off is simply spectacular.
Everything in this musical is cosy, innocent and joyful. The choreography is quite traditional (in a good way) and is slick and very funny – just wait until the Santa’s dance! Sklar’s experience writing songs for Sesame Street is obvious in “A Christmas Song” – you will be singing it all the way home.
Elf is everything you could wish for at Christmas time – corny jokes, catchy songs, sweet romance and a happy sparkly ending. Perfect family entertainment.