Walnut Street Theatre’s ‘Elf’ is a shiny, bright reminder of the spirit of Christmas
A delightful production for the whole family for way less than Broadway prices.
If you’re old enough to be able to read this review, you’re too old for Elf the Musical. This is kiddie theater, all happy faces and too-bright colors. It has a simple plot and provides a sense of gentle sweetness.
Elf the Musical (book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, music by Matthew Solar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin) is an adaptation of the holiday movie starring Will Ferrell as Buddy, the elf.
The Walnut Street Theatre’s Buddy is played by pleasant-faced, pleasant-voiced Nic Rouleau who, as his Playbill bio notes, has played the role of Elder Price in The Book of Mormon 2,600 times.
Buddy has been living happily in Santa’s workshop at the North Pole for 30 years, despite being a tall man wearing striped tights and goofy shoes. He is happy all the time. And then he learns he’s human (never a laughing matter unless you’re Pinocchio) and realizes he doesn’t fit into the elf world.
So off he goes to New York City, the place where “even Santa (Bill Van Horn) needs a breather from happy-all-the-time.” And sure enough, Act Two turns frowny-faced when Buddy steps into the real and naughty world of not-so-nice, not-so-happy people who have to learn that money doesn’t buy you happiness.
But inevitably in the world of musical comedy, there is a shiny, bright side and the show plays out to a happily-ever-after finale.
This musical’s first act has forgettable songs with titles like “Christmastown,” “World’s Greatest Dad,” “Sparklejollywinklejingley,” “I’ll Believe in You” and — well, you get the idea.
The show’s concluding song asks Scroogey NYC — and, by extension, Philadelphia — to remember the spirit of the Christmas season and sing along. The audience I was a part of, didn’t. Maybe we needed more shredded-paper snow?
Director Glenn Casale distinguishes his production from the too, too much film version and gives us instead family friendly entertainment at way less than Broadway prices.
Elf
(Community/Arts) Sing along to songs like “Christmastown,” “World’s Greatest Dad,” “Sparklejollywinklejingley,” and “I’ll Believe in You” as you welcome the holiday season with Buddy, the elf. Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes with an intermission.
⌚️ Through Dec. 29 at Walnut Street Theatre📍 825 Walnut St., Phila. 🌐 walnutstreettheatre.org
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