Elf the Musical

ELF THE MUSICAL performed by SONG at The Atkinson Theatre, Lord Street, Southport on Thursday, 25th November 2021.

‘Elf the Musical’ is based on the 2003 film ‘Elf’. We are introduced to ‘Buddy the Elf’ and his quest to find his true identity!  Buddy was an orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and was transported to the North Pole. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity! Things don’t start well; but Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas!

I cannot believe that I am back at The Atkinson just three months after watching SONG perform ‘Footloose’, but back I am, and this time to a virtually ‘sold out’ theatre on ‘opening night!'   The ‘buzz’ around the place was ‘tangible' - you could feel the anticipation and we were not to be disappointed!

The ’Production Team’ - John Coates (Director), Jess Thorpe (Assistant Director), David Wall (Musical Director) and doing her first show with SONG, Zoe Findlay (Choreographer). Guys, you could just see, throughout the entire performance, that this young cast were having the time of their lives, the results of your efforts! The applause, the ‘standing ovation’, the tears from Zoe and the smiles from John, said it all. Well done, be ever so proud - which I know you are!

David Wall had gathered together an amazing orchestra: Rob Rainford – Bass; Matt Frain – Cello; Mike McKay - Drums; Corey Gerrard and Ben Parker – Keys; Jonathan Rowland – Percussion; Niamh Boland, Emily McArthur and Sarah Dutch – Reeds; Adam Dutch and John Connelly – Trombone; Cliff Ray and Anna Spence – Trumpet; Janet Hitchen and Jacqueline Burrows – Violin… thanks guys, the sound was fabulous!

The Cast - where to start? When you get such a talented and enthusiastic young company who, to a member, sang, danced and acted their hearts out, it really is difficult to start identifying individuals without doing injustice to others!  But, having said that, and I say this a lot, I really do feel that it would be remiss of me not to ‘stick my neck out’ and identify MY five personal favourite performances...

1. Cheating a little… ‘three for the price of one’ the ‘HOBBS FAMILY’ – Walter, Michael and Emily Hobbs played respectively by Oliver Bigley, Joseph Bigley (brothers: first show with SONG) and Zara Newton.  Individually brilliant, great characterisation, all blessed with great singing voices and amazing stage presence but as important, if not more important, they worked really well together as a team and created a wonderfully believable family relationship.  Be ever so proud, you guys!
2. ‘Deb’ played by Georgia Hankin.  Confident from first entrance to last.  Another with great stage presence, always in character, blessed with a wonderful singing voice, a really well-balanced performance… be ever so proud Georgia!
3. Harry Corcoran thought he was playing two supporting roles in this production, ‘Macey’s Store Manager’ and ‘Mr Greenway’, then at the last minute, a third was thrown his way - ‘Santa’!  All I can say is that Harry made playing three roles look effortless!  Confident, three great individual characters, stage presence aplenty - be ever so proud young man, three roles… impressive!
4. Evie Twist played Buddy’s girlfriend ‘Jovie’. There are two sides to ‘Jovie’, the tough, cynical New Yorker and the softer side we see as the show progresses!  Evie showed both sides with effortless ease!  Great stage presence, mannerisms and facial expressions aplenty, a wonderful singing voice… her rendition of ‘Never Fall in Love with an Elf’, was superb!  If it hadn’t been for one other, this performance, for me, would have been the ‘show stealer’… be proud young lady, very proud!  
5. But ‘stealing the show’ was Lucas Goodman playing the lead role ‘Buddy’. This is a first for me…a second occasion in two shows that I have given ‘star billing’ to the same person…but, I have no qualms about doing so, because this performance was up there with the best!  Confident, never off stage, stage presence aplenty, never out of character, led from the front, a perfect fit for this role… well done young man, an outstanding performance!

’What makes a good show great’ - a question I posed to the cast at the ‘after show meet’ … for me it’s the ‘Ensemble’ and tonight they were outstanding!  Always interested, always involved; never looked forced or staged which was ‘highlighted’ during the ‘ice skating scene’ - Buddy and Jovie, singing ‘Christmas Song’ (great song, sang ever so well), but just at the right moment, two skaters skated by and reacted appropriately to the line from the song… ‘detail’… amazing!  The Ensemble… Georgia Harding, Nathan Power, Evan Thorpe, Abigail Bond, Jess Thorpe, Emilie Alty, Megan Lawson, Orlando Campolucci-Bordi, Fleur Wigmore, Gabriella Agrimi, Poppy Coyle, Bethany Rose, Elesha Nolan, Isabelle Culshaw, Daisy Hopkins-Lane, Grace Curry, Sophie Freeman-Eaton, Eleanor Clarke, Tess Wright, Holly Partington and Serafina Campolucci-Bordi.

Andrea Claire provided the Stage Management with Set/Sound and Graphic Design by Si Grainger. Lighting Design was by Jamie Moran with Victoria Emerson on ‘Follow Spot’. ‘Props’ were under the control of Amanda Murphy and Wardrobe, the watchful eye of Karen Fairclough. Where would Youth Theatre be without those amazing Chaperones: Gill Corcoran, Linda Davies, Bev Newton, Lesley Power, Kelly Bond, Guy Wigmore whilst ‘Chairman’ Hilary Thompson was leading the ‘Front of House’ team!   The set was minimal, but can I make ‘special mention’ of the digital backgrounds provided by Animated Projections. Set up by Si Grainger, operated by Sound Engineer James Donnelly with the help from others, the images were amazing and enhanced the production so much!

Thank you so much for inviting my wife and I; for your warm welcome, your hospitality throughout and for allowing me to visit the cast after the concert.  Great atmosphere, great night, cannot wait to see you all again soon.

Stay safe, keep well…

Jim Briscoe

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