'Elf: The Musical' reboot is festive holiday fun

‘ELF: THE MUSICAL’: Grey Henson & cast. Photo: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.

ELF: THE MUSICAL
Book by Thomas Meehan & Bob Martin
Music by Matthew Sklar
Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Choreographed by Liam Steel
Directed by Philip Wm. McKinley
Through January 4, 2025
Marquis Theatre
210 W. 46^th Street
https://elfonbroadway.com/

By Scott Harrah

Breaking holiday news: Elf: The Musical has finally been revived after 14 years, and this production is glossier and more gleeful than ever. It has been slightly updated for a 2024 audience with jokes about TikTok and other things that are topical in the 2020s. Based on the hit 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, the musical stage adaptation of Elf was originally produced on Broadway in 2010, directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.

Those who have seen the movie Elf might remember the plot. Buddy (Grey Henson) is an overgrown 30-year-old innocent from the North Pole who travels to New York City to find his father, Walter Hobbs (Michael Hayden). Upon finding his father at the office, a hard-nosed workaholic, with no time for his family, Buddy discovers he has a stepmother, Emily (Ashley Brown) and a half-brother, Michael (Kai Edgar). While working at Macy’s, he also finds a girlfriend, Jovie (Kayla Davion). Complications arise as Buddy tries to adjust to his new life in New York, and that’s what makes it so much fun. Buddy discovers that New Yorkers have lost their belief in Santa and have little Christmas cheer, and it is his obligation to bring it all back.

Great book & score

Elf: The Musical has a great book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin. What’s more, the score by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (both wrote the musical adaptation of The Wedding Singer) is joyful and bubbly. Two songs are standouts. “The Story of Buddy the Elf” is an old-fashioned showstopper, and “A Christmas Song” (featured in both act one and act two) should be a holiday classic by now.

A gifted cast

First, Grey Henson (Shucked) is consistently charming as Buddy. He has great comic timing and genuinely seems to be having fun throughout the show. In addition, Kayla Davion (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical) shines as his girlfriend Jovie. She is the woman he meets while working at Macy’s. Ms. Davion is sassy and has great chemistry with Mr. Henson, and her powerful voice is a total crowd-pleaser when she belts out her solo song “Never Fall in Love (With an Elf).”

Furthermore, Sean Astin (known for Lord of the Rings and Netflix’s “Stranger Things) is sublime in dual roles as both Santa Claus and publishing executive Mr. Greenway. Newcomer Kalen Allen is spunky and quick-witted as a store manager at Macy’s and also as a hot dog street vendor.

Fine supporting performances are also given by Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) as Emily Hobbs, Buddy’s stepmother; Kai Edgar as Buddy’s little half-brother, Michael Hobbs; and Tony Award nominee Michael Hayden (Judgment at Nuremberg) as Walter Hobbs, Buddy’s biological father.

More festive

On the whole, this revival of Elf: The Musical is actually much more festive the original 2010 production, thanks to razor-sharp direction by Philip Wm. McKinley, Liam Steel’s energetic choreography and clever scenic and costume design by Tim Goodchild, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, video design by Ian William Galloway and Mesmer Studios, and others responsible for the Yuletide visual effects. The show is full of holiday cheer and is winning family holiday fare. Spoiler alert: Watch out for Santa’s sleigh hovering above the audience and lots of snow during the grand finale.

Published November 17, 2024
Reviewed at press preview on November 16, 2024