The revival of Elf the Musical at the Marquis has no greater goal than to provide two-and-a-half hours of jolly Yuletide cheer and succeeds with “Sparklejollytwinklejingley” joy, to quote one of Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin’s clever songs. Based on the 2003 film comedy starring Will Farrell, this production staged by Philip Wm. McKinley is a stripped-down, speedy version of Casey Nicholaw’s original which played Broadway in 2010 and again in 2012. Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin’s sharp book remains a giddy delight, smart enough for both kids and adults. They’ve also eliminated some of the cringeworthy elements of David Berenbaum’s original screenplay such as an awkward shower scene with Farrell and Zooey Deschanel.
Grey Henson, who has previously had outstanding supporting roles in Mean Girls and Shucked, is perfectly cast as Buddy, a taller-than-average human raised as one of Santa’s diminutive helpers after stowing away in the jolly old man’s toy sack. The central joke here is Buddy acts like a naive child in an adult’s body once he treks to NYC to find his dad Walter Hobbs, a workaholic publishing exec (appropriately grumpy Michael Hayden). Henson skillfully conveys Buddy’s bubbly enthusiasm and innocent love of fun without tipping over into cloying overkill. He underplays Buddy’s cluelessness and avoids excess treacle. It’s entirely believable he can charm a pair of hardened Gotham cops or take over the decorating duties of cynical Macy’s employees. Henson also puts over his musical numbers with dash and splash.
Kayla Davion makes the most of her one number as Buddy’s cynical love interest. Sean Astin delights as a merry and warm-hearted Santa as well as imparting blustering brutality as Walter’s brutally market-minded boss. Jennifer Sanchez is vivid and edgy as Hobbs’s harried secretary with a harsh, hilarious Noo Yawk accent, adding volts of comic electricity to her every scene. Ashley Brown mixes starch and spice to Hobbs’s wife and Kai Edgar is energetic as his son, Buddy’s half-brother.
Tim Goodchild’s sets augmented by Ian William Galloway and Mesmer Studio’s video designs create the right holiday atmosphere for this family favorite. Bring the kids and your inner child.
