Legitimate Theater: Elf the Musical (2010)

Welcome to Legitimate Theater: a column dedicated to movie-based stage musicals. The goal of this series is to explore those stories that originated in films and eventually worked their way onto Broadway and beyond. By the end of each entry, there will hopefully be a better understanding of this odd but rampant trend in modern entertainment. Are these stories really worth telling through song and dance? How can it even compare to the technical prowess of a camera and seamless editing? Join me on this quest as I explore the highs and lows of this trend on the third Wednesday of every month and hopefully answer what makes this Legitimate Theater.

Opening

The holiday season is upon us, and that can only mean one thing for Legitimate Theater. That's right, it's time to start breaking out the Christmas songs and finding any excuse to sing and dance. But what show could possibly get us all in the festive mood? The film Elf is one of the rare contemporary classics that has since become a staple of the season and remains one of Will Ferrell's most beloved performances. It only makes sense then that they would turn this bright and colorful story into a big time musical. So, what does Buddy the Elf have to offer to the stage? The answer is pretty simple. He knows how to bring the joy, and plenty of other gifts. It's the show that keeps on giving, and hopefully it will be just as rewarding as the film that inspired it.

A Quick Background

Tony Wins: N/A

Based on: Elf (2003)

Music: Matthew Sklar

Lyrics: Chad Beguelin

Book: Bob Martin & Thomas Meehan

Prominent Actors: Sebastian Arcelus, Amy Spanger, Beth Leavel, Mark Jacoby

Soundtrack

1. "Overture"
2. "Christmastown"
3. "World's Greatest Dad"
4. "In The Way"
5. "Sparklejollytwinklejingley"
6. "I'll Believe in You"
7. "In the Way (Reprise)"
8. "Just Like Him"
9. "A Christmas Song"
10. "World's Greatest Dad (Reprise)"
11. "Nobody Cares About Santa"
12. "Never Fall in Love with an Elf"
13. "There is a Santa Claus"
14. "The Story of Buddy the Elf"
15. "Nobody Cares About Santa (Reprise)"
16. "A Christmas Song (Reprise)"
17. "Finale"

Note: Listen to the music here

Song Exploration

Opening Song:
"Christmastown"

This is a decent example of how to start a show that pits a character at the North Pole. How do you introduce a wonderful and carefree world where everyone sings and dances? Why, just put on the upbeat holiday melodies and get around to the exposition, of course. This is a fairly solid representation of what's to come, in large part because the show wants to be rid of cynicism and instead excuses to dance and smile. That comes across rather effortlessly as Santa and the supporting characters are introduced in a manner that likely benefits from an additional spectacle that comes from the stage design. It's hard to tell given that this is only the review of the music, but it does feel like one component of a bigger package, though what a piece it actually ends up being.

Carryovers

"Finale"

It's true that a lot of the plot is predominantly pulled from the film and there's not music criticism to make about the shift. Characters still find themselves doubting Santa by the end, and the man at odds with the modern New York still comes across in the music. However, there is a brief moment in the final track that quotes the improvised song that Buddy the Elf sings in the film. It's a short tune for sure, but what it does carry is the sense of dedication to making this as authentic to the original story as possible. Buddy the Elf's jubilant personality also shines through in the music, and it's as a whole a good representation of what the film was trying to discuss in regards to Christmas spirit.

High Point:

"A Christmas Song (Reprise)"

While the album is not short of any memorable moments and plenty of fun, it's when the show turns to the somewhat serious side that things get more interesting. It's a reprise, but it feels also like an improvement over the original track by adding a sense of hope hidden under uncertainty. The music builds and the choir sings along in a way that makes it feel like the audible embodiment of learning to believe in Santa again. It's a moment that stands out because of the production that goes into the song's final seconds, where it requires the audience to buy into the magic. The rest of the show is just as enjoyable, but this is where things at least build to something more interesting. 

Low Point:

"World's Greatest Dad (Reprise)"

There's something funny about the best and worst of the musical being essentially reprises. On one hand, the former track built and improved upon the themes of the first. In this example, it works towards the story, but it's essentially anticlimactic by the end and is one of the least memorable on the entire soundtrack. Considering that a few of these tracks don't even make it to a minute in length, the short running time doesn't have plenty of room to become messy. Even then one could hope that there was a better way of getting this point across without feeling like a thud midway through the album.

What Does It Bring to the Story?

Once again, the simple answer is music and cheer. The story is largely the same and has no major detours that are worth mentioning. What it does bring to the story is more involvement of Buddy the Elf's relationship with his father, Santa. Considering that he is a major piece of the third act, having Santa become a revisited character throughout the music is a nice touch and helps to make the final build to believing in Santa hold a deeper meaning. The show as a whole benefits from the music and enthusiasm on display in full form. It's hard to say what else has changed, though it does feel like everyone gets a memorable musical moment at some point in the show, and that's enough to make it far more endearing.

Was This Necessary?

Yes

The music as a whole fits the holiday spirit and captures the wit and humor of the film it pays tribute to. Even the over-enthusiasm of Buddy the Elf shines through the production and makes him an even more interesting figure of theater. As a whole, the music is not necessarily the most exciting or memorable, but it helps to capture the vibe that Elf gave off in the film. A movie like that deserves a show like this, one that is bound to tear away every fiber of cynicism and replace it with a sense of joy that is required for this type of story to work. It has plenty of strong emotion buried underneath that shines through at points and makes the overall execution of the show one that's hard to ignore. It's not a masterpiece, but it does Elf proud.