Elf

Elf

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"If you lower your expectations in life, you avoid a lot of disappointment," says brooding shop girl Jovie to Buddy, Elf's perpetually perky and positive title character. Happily, theatergoers don't have to take Jovie's advice in order to enjoy this winning holiday musical, which is a wonderful alternative to long-running spectacles like The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and Wintuk for families.

Based on the popular 2003 comedy starring Will Ferrell as Buddy, a boy raised in the North Pole by elves, the Broadway show hews closely to the film's plot. Upon discovering his human heritage, Buddy (played jovially by relative unknown Sebastian Arcelus) travels to New York City to find his birth father, workaholic grinch Walter (Mark Jacoby), who was unaware of his existence. An overgrown child who knows nothing of adult society, Buddy is exuberant and impossible, overbearing and charming, and just about everyone—including Walter, stepmom Emily (Tony winner Beth Leavel, doing the most with what little she's given) and precocious half-brother Michael (talented teen Matthew Gumley)—assumes he's insane. After all, isn't anyone who believes in Santa certifiable? Anyone, that is, but kids, who believe in all kinds of magic and, as a result, relate quite well to Buddy.

Unlike Ferrell, whose performance was maniacal and over-the-top, Arcelus is silly and adorable. He can't pull off slapstick or punch lines like the Saturday Night Live alumnus, but with his goofy grin, rubbery limbs and clear tenor, he sells the catchy if derivative songs (the score, written by Wedding Singer team Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, is a pastiche of classic show tunes and Broadway pop), and is as sweet and syrupy as the holiday season itself.

Rounding out the cast are Amy Spanger as Buddy's love interest, Jovie, and Cheers vet George Wendt as Santa, but neither of them get much of a chance to shine. The spotlight belongs to the sparkly NYC sets, designed by David Rockwell (the man behind South Street Seaport's innovative Imagination Playground), and of course, Buddy. Considering Christmas is typically all about the kids, that makes perfect sense.—Raven Snook

Elf plays at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre through Jan 2, 2011.

See more...

• George Wendt interview for Elf
• Theater articles
• Articles from this issue