REVIEW - ELF: The Musical at Melton Theatre

The show, which continues through to two shows on Saturday, combines dramatic storytelling, plentiful laughs, and a regular succession of catchy and appealing musical numbers to make the experience a recommended delight for audience members, both young and old.

The musical is based on the ever-popular Christmas film Elf, made in 2003 and starring Will Ferrell, and originally debuted on Broadway in 2010.

Director, Hannah Oseman, displays a keen eye for detail as she skilfully marshals her resources to deliver an entertaining show with a feel both polished and professional.

ELF: The Musical tells the story of Buddy, one of Santa’s workshop helpers who discovers, to his horror, that he is not an elf but is in fact human.

He sets off on a voyage of discovery to New York City to meet his birth father, Walter Hobbs, a businessman publishing children’s books.

Jak Beasley delivers a thoroughly engaging performance as Buddy.

His enthusiasm is infectious and his dynamism such that his energetic physical acting, including his endearing head wobbles, is irrepressible for the audience.

His approximation of Ferrell in the show’s louder moments is appreciated, but he goes one better than the Hollywood star by delivering rousing vocals in the show’s many songs.

Beasley clearly possesses a powerful set of lungs and as a singer really sells his solo numbers, successfully hitting every note.

Katherine Vernon, as Jovie, portrays a character jaded by life, and her solo number ‘Never Fall in Love’ brings a real sense of pathos to the production.

Dan Atkinson’s Walter Hobbs is a character whose immersion in the corporate world has caused him to forget the true meaning of Christmas, as we discover in the song ‘In the Way’, and his struggles to balance family and work provide the moral heart of the show.

As Santa, Ryan Green bookends the show with a magical performance sure to delight younger audience members.

The characters lower down in the cast list also make their mark.

Corporate duo Chadwick and Matthews supply a funny Tweedledum and Tweedledee dynamic, their reactions to a shredder mishap hilarious, while the increasingly bewildered secretary Debs also supplies regular laughter.

The younger performers, many of whom are students at Melton’s Performing Stars Academy, fare equally well.

Those playing the elves are both expressive and enthusiastic, with Theo as workshop overseer Charlie a real scene-stealer.

Two of the other stand-outs are the actors sharing the role of Michael, Ella and Amelie, who combine their skills to make the character a witty, acerbic favourite.

It’s also worth noting that the cast’s American accents never falter.

As a musical, the show’s numbers all hit with refreshing accuracy, and none disappoint.

The 10-person orchestra, led by musical director Max Harris, fills the auditorium with vibrant, toe-tapping, and immersive music to accompany the show’s many musical numbers, and the overall level of behind-the-scenes professionalism truly impresses.

ELF: The Musical is showing every evening at 7pm at Melton Theatre from Tuesday November 10 until Saturday, when there will also be a special matinee performance at 2pm.

Go to meltontheatre-tickets.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173670770 to buy tickets.