Step Behind The Stage
Elf The Musical
Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes - 08/11/24
Review by Nicki Storey
Elf The Musical, based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, has become a festive fan favourite in both the West End and on Broadway since its first production in 2010. This festive season sees Elf The Musical spreading Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear all the way across the globe.
The global tour kicked off with an opening weekend at Milton Keynes Theatre. Seated amongst theatregoers and families, all ready for a glimpse of Santa and Buddy the Elf, the energy in the room was palpable as Philip Day took to the stage as Santa and transported the audience straight to the North Pole.
Act One saw multiple standout moments, including the ensemble showcasing some seriously impressive elf choreography on their knees, an audience snowball fight, and traditional pantomime-inspired audience participation. One lucky audience member was even brought on stage to help Buddy navigate his way through the hustle and bustle of New York City.
Jordan Conway as Buddy was an absolute joy to watch, delivering an incredibly energetic performance while also showing great emotional depth and quick-thinking improv when faced with technical difficulties. These issues certainly kept the cast on their toes, but were handled like utter professionals across the board. The audience were even treated to an impromptu display of roller-skating acrobatics during a show stop, which certainly kept bums in seats.
Another standout performance came from Louie as Michael Hobbs, Buddy’s half-brother. Louie is a fantastic young talent, commanding the stage and portraying an entirely believable mother-son bond with Charlotte Dalton’s Emily Hobbs. Their heartfelt delivery of the duet ‘I’ll Believe in You’, centred around their wish to spend time with Walter Hobbs, was a highlight of the show.
More standout moments included Kelly Banlaki’s humorous performance of ‘Never Fall in Love with an Elf’, detailing Jovie’s reservations about a relationship with Buddy. Of course, the mark of a great touring production is its ability to adapt to each destination, which here came in the form of poking fun at Milton Keynes’ neighbouring town of Northampton.
Milton Keynes Theatre was transformed into a winter wonderland, with magical lighting illuminating the space in festive colours and snowflakes, setting the scene from the moment you enter the auditorium. The stage was home to three main sets, the North Pole, Greenway Press, and the Hobbs’ living room. Fast-moving set pieces and a huge ever-changing LED screen ensured the audience felt fully present in every location.
The climax of the musical comes in the spectacular moment when Santa flies in on his sleigh above New York, a truly magical sight even from the dress circle. This, paired with Romy Bauer’s aerial stunts and even Buddy and Jovie briefly going airborne, made for a jaw-dropping finale.
This production continues to tour across the UK, Ireland, Monaco, and the UAE and is a must-see for anyone wanting to get into the ‘sparkle-jolly-twinkle-jingley’ mood. Whether you are a fan of the film or a newly reformed Scrooge, this is the place to be this Christmastime.
Cast on the Night:
Jordan Conway – Buddy
Kelly Banlaki – Jovie
Barry Bloxham – Walter Hobbs
Joe Speare – Store Manager
Philip Day – Santa / Chadwick
Charlotte Dalton – Emily Hobbs
Natalie Gray – Deb
Dafydd Langley Matthews – Sam
Fogell – Charlie Elf / Fake Santa / Greenway / TV Reporter
Joe Hatton-Cop – Nathan Paul – Cop 2
Nicky Figgins – Dance Captain
Romy Bauer – Ensemble Aerialist
Mollie Lane – Ensemble
Cleo Leilani Khan – Ensemble
Kelsey Lester – Ensemble
Karis Lomax – Ensemble
Kiera Preston – Ensemble
Louie – Michael