‘Elf the Musical’ at The Fox
Buddy and Jovie
This is why you have to see theater: unexpected pleasures like “Elf: The Musical.” Based on the film “Elf” by David Berenbaum, this musical is different from the movie. This new script and main character, Elf (Daniel Patrick Smith) are laugh-out-loud funny! The non-offensive adult humor slips right by the minds of children, but adults will get the double entendres. However, what makes this show outstanding is Daniel Patrick Smith, who is beguiling and dazzling as Buddy, the elf. With a boyish Ira Glass-like voice, a dramatic animated flair like David Sedaris, and an overzealous joy for life, you never know what to expect from this 30-year-old elf. With a hilarious mocking impression of Whitney Houston and Frankie Valli, campy dance moves, and a cool seduction of a young woman he falls in love with, Smith is a force to be reckoned with.
The music is a mixture of big band sounds and old musicals from the 1950s with simple lyrics, some which are quite funny.
Book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, Music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Begueliln, directed by Sam Scalamoni, “Elf: The Musical” runs through Sunday, Dec. 6 at The Fox Theatre.
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