Review: 'ELF The Musical' in Coralville shows that it's never too late to be kind to each other, or ourselves
The most profound moment in a rather whimsical, silly tale is when Buddy the Elf wished Mr. Greenway, the grinch who boasts he hasn’t spent Christmas with his family in 30 years, a Merry Christmas.
For the entirety of “ELF The Musical,” which is presented by City Circle Theatre Company and is entering the second of its two sold-out weekends at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, Mr. Greenway’s presence looms over Walter Hobbs.
Walter is the man who unknowingly fathered Buddy, a human raised in the North Pole who believed that he was an elf until Santa Claus tells him the truth. He is a bit of a grinch too.
Walter is an absent, overworked father who relishes spending time in the office over spending quality time with his wife, son Michael, and later, his other son Buddy.
But as the musical goes on, it’s clear that Walter is that way because of his no-nonsense boss, Mr. Greenway, whose No. 1 priority is bringing in the dough (and we’re not talking cookie dough, sorry, Buddy).
When Walter finally refuses to work on Christmas and puts himself and his family first, it’s no surprise Mr. Greenway has some less than kind words to say.
Yet, clad in his green elf suit and an earnest expression, Buddy, who has been exposed to the most unkindness in his life ever over the course of the musical, still chooses to wish him Merry Christmas.
In a two-and-a-half hour long musical full of holiday decorations and a few standout musical numbers, that’s my favorite scene.
Mr. Greenway exits the stage, and maybe off stage, asks himself if he is proud of his behavior. Maybe, he even asks himself if he really wants to spend another year away from loved ones.
We don’t know that, of course.
We don’t know if he’ll move forward in life a bit more compassionate to the people around him.
We do know that Buddy, sometimes strange, sometimes too loud, just showed Mr. Greenway how to be kind.
“ELF The Musical” is based off the 2003 film “Elf” starring Will Ferrell. He played Buddy, who lives as an elf in Christmastown in the North Pole, and discovers he’s actually a human. Buddy learns he has a father in New York, and sets off to meet him, overjoyed at the endless possibilities of this new relationship.
Kent Reynolds, the actor who takes on the lead role in this production, captures perfectly the child-like innocence 30-year-old man would have if he grew up in an ever-merry, winter wonderland.
Of course, some of the best jokes in the show are about just that.
Buddy may be the only one who believed he was an elf, evident when his rosy-cheeked, shorter elf pals say Buddy is the best basketball player or has a baritone singing voice.
What Buddy also discovers throughout the play is that folks don’t believe in Santa Claus. They don’t really have a ton of Christmas spirit either.
And they certainly don’t have the capacity to accept this strange man who dresses in a green elf suit and — even stranger — has boundless joy to spread.
They aren’t the only ones having trouble making sense of him.
At one point, I find myself agreeing with Jovie, the gal who moved to New York with a poor taste in men and a less than cherry demeanor who catches Buddy’s eye.
She asks Buddy to tone himself down a bit.
He’s loud. His emotions are big and unapologetic.
It’s the opposite of what we are all often taught: to reign it back in, to not cause a scene.
But that’s what makes Buddy so magical.
In the musical, it’s Buddy’s relentless cheer that transforms the dour employees at Macy’s into a singing, dancing act — it's a fantastic performance and made me wish there where more large dance numbers throughout the entire show.
It’s his playfulness that transforms an office of overworked employees into a happy bunch, where the secretary boogies about and tosses some shredded paper around as she and Buddy pretend it’s snow.
As “Elf The Musical” puts it, Christmas is about receiving gifts when you’re younger. When you’re older, it’s about giving them.
It’s the one time of the year everyone gets to be Santa Claus, Buddy’s stepmother, Emily, tells him.
So let’s be Santa Claus.
Let’s believe in the good in others.
Let’s nurture our inner child and gift everyone with the same kindness Buddy gifts the people he meets.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or (319) 519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Review: 'Elf The Musical' in Coralville celebrates the act of kindness
