When “Elf,” the stage musical adaptation of the 2003 Will Ferrell film comedy, debuted on Broadway 14 years ago, I wrote in this newspaper that “for Christmas this year, the elves in Santa’s Workshop ought to build us a better new musical than ‘Elf,’ which is hardly worth adding to anyone’s holiday wish list.”
Over the past two decades, a genre of Christmas-themed musicals (mostly based on well-known films) has developed, which regional theaters in turn produce over the holidays for family audiences, including “White Christmas,” “Holiday Inn,” “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” and “A Christmas Story.”
Among them, “Elf” is not the worst Christmas musical (that would be “The Grinch”) or the best (that would be “Annie,” which predated the fad by decades). A decade ago, when NBC produced an hour-long animated adaptation of the musical titled “Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas,” I thought it was a vast improvement, streamlining the storytelling and keeping only the best songs.
I had little interest in seeing the new Broadway production of “Elf,” which is directed by Philip William McKinley, the guy who tried to salvage “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” after Julie Taymor was fired. By comparison, the original Broadway production of “Elf” was staged by musical comedy stalwart Casey Nicholaw (“The Drowsy Chaperone,” “Something Rotten!”). In fact, I attended primarily under the belief that it would be an age-appropriate Broadway show for my eight-year-old son.
While “Elf” can still hardly be considered a great or even good musical (many songs that fail to leave a lasting impression and loads of clunky comic business), the new Broadway production is, I must confess, a crowd-pleasing, feel-good delight that is presented with genuine showmanship, including expansive dance choreography by Liam Steel, whimsical digital projections, and (in a feat reminiscent of the “Back to the Future” musical) Santa’s sleigh flying high above the audience. There are also, of course, obligatory bursts of snow throughout the theater.
Grey Henson (“Shucked,” “Mean Girls”), in the Will Ferrell role of the elf Buddy, is superb, full of loving affection and musical theater pizzazz. Sean Astin, best remembered as Samwise Gamgee in the “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy, appears in the celebrity cameo role of Santa Claus. Judging by the audience response at my performance, Astin has a fervent fan following.
The fine cast also includes Michael Hayden (“Carousel”) as Buddy’s workaholic father, Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) as Buddy’s stepmother, and Kayla Davion as Buddy’s Macy’s co-worker-turned-girlfriend.
“Elf” may not have left me believing in Santa Claus, but it certainly did make me believe that it is an enjoyable holiday musical worth recommending.
Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway, elfonbroadway.com. Through Jan. 4.
