By Jennifer Mustoe and Hannah Seigfried
All Thanksgiving, I kept saying to Hannah, “I can’t wait until we get to go see Elf at the Eccles! You won’t believe how great it’s going to be.” Well, this statement was oh so true, because neither one of us was ready to be “Sparklejollytwinklejingley”like we were with this production. I knew it’d be great. Just not prepared for how great. Elf the Musical in Salt Lake City is absolutely darling, adorable, wonderful, entertaining, spectacular. It’s all the feelz, folks.
Based on the movie Elf, starring Will Ferrell, it tells the story of Buddy (Sam Hartley), who lives at the North Pole and hasn’t grasped that though he is much taller than his fellow elves, he is not one. He is, in fact, human. Santa (Mark Fishback) finally tells his friend that it’s time for Buddy to leave the safety of his North Pole home and find his father, Walter Hobbs (John Adkison), in New York City. Through a series of events, Hobbs, a workaholic who ignores his wife Emily (Marie Lemon)and 12-year-old son, Michael (Quentin Booth II) was unaware he had a 30-year-old son, and is horrified when Buddy arrives, decked out in elf garb and acting, well, nutty. The story is formulaic, heavy on charm and the hope of Christmas, and is thoroughly delightful.
The set, charmingly, intricately, and inspiringly designed by Christine Peters is wonderful. Each set: Santa’s workshop, New York City, a fun Chinese restaurant, are all layered with detail that make us feel a little like we’ve walked into a storybook, with soft and bright colors, dimensions that feel like that favorite Christmas book you read every year. The costumes by Gregg Barnes are so darling. We especially loved the “human elf” costumes, and the elf costumes in the North Pole scenes. So much color and so cute. In fact, cuteness is huge in this show and I couldn’t be happier. All fuzzy, colorful, traditional, modern, spunky. Just. So. Cute.
Music Director Nate Patten brings us a perfect product. We’d never heard the songs (music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin) from this show before, and they are so much fun. The audience was laughing and clapping and whistling and shouting after each number. I was surprised that there were no traditional Christmas carols in Elf the Musical, but by the end of the show, I thought maybe I need to learn some of these numbers and add them to my holiday playlist to sing at parties. (We run Utah Minstrels.) Each singer had great voices, and we were both especially impressed with young Booth II for his strong vocals and lovely harmonies with Lemon. The Eccles offers live orchestra. Hurrah! How we love to hear their music and this is better than ever. The ringing brasses practically cheer with Christmasy sounds.
Choreographer Connor Gallagher has a fun challenge creating fun dances for actors who, when playing elves, are on their knees. All the dance numbers are fun and lively, when the dancers are elves and when they are humans.
Director Sam Scalamoni has created such a delightful creation with Elf the Musical, I pretty much insist you start your holiday season with this production. Hannah was mesmerized with the entire experience and called the production “magical.” I heard one woman walking out saying, “I’m going to buy tickets for tomorrow night and take my granddaughter.” One young girl said, “Elf is my favorite movie and Elf the Musical is my favorite play!” The bouncy music playing after the curtain fell (watch til the very end to see the final cuteness) had many patrons dancing all the way out of the theater. So many smiles.
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Salt Lake is alight with Christmas–all the trees all over the place lit with thousands of tiny bulbs, happy people window shopping, a fabulous holiday vibe in the air. If you park at Salt Lake Central Trax station and travel in and get off at the City Center station (1st South), you don’t even have to find a parking space. You can park and ride in for free.
During this season of shop, shop, shopping on Black Friday and beyond and the often frustrating efforts to find The Best Present to put under the tree, you may want to give your family a Christmas experience. Give them a memory that will last forever. Give them Elf the Musical. It is a feel-good Christmas shot in the arm. I guarantee it.
Broadway at the Eccles presents Elf the Musical, Book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, Music by Matthew Sklar, and Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Delta Hall at the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater, 131 S. Main Street, SLC, UT 84111
November 24-26, Saturday 11/25 3:00 PM, 8:00 PM; Sunday 11/26 1:00 PM, 6:30 PM
Tickets: $30-$90
Contact: 385-468-1030, events@artsaltlake.org
Broadway at the Eccles Facebook Page
Elf the Musical Facebook Event
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