Despite it still being November, the Christmas markets are already open and the Palace Theatre in Manchester kicked off their celebrations early with Elf The Musical.
Based upon the 2003 New Line Cinema hit starring Will Ferrell, Elf The Musical features music and lyrics by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway, The Wedding Singer), with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone).
Elf The Musical is produced and directed by the father and son team Jon and Jordan Conway who run the creative and management team responsible for Peter Pan.
The Palace Theatre is the perfect setting to bring the film to stage and lends well to interactivity with the snowball fight and elements of pantomime.
Buddy, a young orphan – played by Jordan – mistakenly crawls into Santa’s red bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole.
The would-be elf is raised unaware that he is a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth.
With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, Walter Hobbs, played by Barry Bloxham, and discover his true identity.
Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list, and his step-brother does not even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family – which also includes his step-mother, played by Karis Lomax – and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Buddy also finds love on the way in the form of Jovie, played by Kelly Banlaki, who wonderfully sings “Never Fall in Love With an Elf” – only to do just that.
This modern-day classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner elf.
After all, as Buddy says himself: “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!”
Do not miss it!
Elf The Musical is in Manchester until Sunday 17 November.
Feature Image: Production: Buddy by Jordan Conway
