The last time “Elf: The Musical” was on Broadway, during the holiday season a dozen years ago, I saw an autism-friendly performance of it. This turned out to be a great way to view this stage adaptation of the 2003 Will Ferrell movie, since my attention was directed almost entirely to the dexterity and decency with which the cast delighted the sometimes-unpredictable audience. That fond memory began fading before the end of the first song of this new revival, which opens tonight at the Marquis Theater for another holiday run.
The music is pleasant enough, the dancing at times exciting, and there are some wondrous moments in it, especially when the characters’ Christmas spirit provides the energy to lift Santa’s sparkly sleigh out over our heads.
But this latest production — overlong,, more dopey than witty, and mostly missing the spark of the original — largely demonstrates that, sometimes, Christmas spirit is not enough to keep a vehicle aloft.
Grey Henson portrays Buddy, a human being who was raised by elves at the North Pole, and who travels to New York City during Christmastime to find his biological father – a Scrooge-like figure named Walter Hobbs (Michael Hayden) who’s on Santa’s naughty list for having lost the Christmas spirit.
“Elf” the movie was a vehicle for Will Ferrell; his comic verve carries us through the overly familiar settings – Macy’s, the Empire State Building – and the absence of logic and consistency: Why does this man in his thirties, raised among the industrious workers of a caring community, act like a not-very-smart seven-year-old?
Henson, who made a splash as the gay friend in “Mean Girls” and the co-narrator of “Shucked” – both supporting roles — doesn’t take charge in the same way. He’s at his best when leading the ensemble in choreographer Liam Steel’s lightning-fast, synchronized dance numbers.
There are supporting players who get their moments to shine – most notably Kayla Davion as Jovie, Buddy’s love interest; Kai Edgar and Jennifer Sanchez as Buddy’s half-brother and stepmother
Santa this time around is portrayed by Sean Astin making his Broadway debut. His main job is to narrate Buddy’s story, although he also takes that sleigh for a spin. Astin is a good actor; many probably know him best as a major hobbit in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy (although a later generation knows him for Stranger Things, and an earlier generation as Patty Duke’s son and a star of Goonies.) But what’s striking in “Elf” is how much the actor disappears behind the snow white beard, red pantsuit, and a torrent of jokes – including the first one that began to sour me on the show.
In that first song, “Happy All The Time,” the members of the ensemble dance on their knees in costumes that make them look short (and thus presumably elvish), while a dyspeptic Santa sings:
“When they sing until they’re bluish
Santa wishes he were Jewish”
Elf the Musical
Marquis Theater through January 4
Running time: Two hours and 30 minutes including an intermission
Book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, choreographed by Liam Steel
Scenic Design by Tim Goodchild; Costume Design by Tim Goodchild; Lighting Design by Patrick Woodroffe; Sound Design by Gareth Owen and Peter Fitzgerald; Video Design by Ian William Galloway; Hair and Wig Design by Sam Cox
Cast: Grey Henson as Buddy the Elf, Sean Astin as Santa. Kayla Davion as Jovie, Michael Hayden as Walter Hobbs, Ashley Brown as Emily Hobbs, Kai Edgar as Michael, Jennifer Sanchez as Deb, Kalen Allen as the Store Manager, and Michael Deaner as Little Boy.
